THE sight, sound and smell of the countryside has come to a York house.

These cute lambs - Dec and Cat -- have been lovingly reared in the front garden of a house in Tudor Road, Acomb.

Angela Casling, who owns the lambs, persuaded her daughter, Donna Spencer, to temporarily take them in after they were born on land near the York outer ring road at Poppleton.

The animals - named after TV presenters Cat Deeley and Declan Donnelley - graze all day in the front garden.

"I needed Donna to bottle-feed them milk until they were old enough," said Angela, who has seven sheep.

"Nearly everyone loves them. Kids come from all over the place to see them.

"They bring carrots and cabbage.

"It has given the area a real taste of the countryside."

City of York Council officers have told Angela she must now take them back following a complaint.

- Have you something unusual lurking at the bottom of the garden? If so, reporter Matthew Woodcock would like to hear from you. Phone him on 01904 653051, ext 305, or send him an email: matthew.woodcock@ycp.co.uk

Updated: 10:19 Wednesday, June 04, 2003