Sid the sheeps game for a tickle

Sid the ticklish sheep may soon have to watch his waistline, as he has picked up a taste for chips.

Fortunately, he is also a keen footballer, so kickabouts with his owner, Jade Henderson (6) of Marsh Lane, Farndon, are helping to keep him trim.

Sid, who will be five in the spring, was given to Jade’s mother, Miss Tara Henderson, when he was rejected by his mother.

He was bottled-fed and grew up completely tame.

Miss Henderson brought him to Farndon when she moved to work for Newark and Sherwood Homes 18 months ago.

Now he shares Miss Henderson’s stables with Jade’s pony, Squirrel.

Jade, who attends St Peter’s Primary School, Farndon, said: “I go and see him every day after school to give him his tea.

“When I get a carrot I run around the yard with him and he catches it.

“He plays football with me and I brush him to keep him clean.”

Jade said Sid always tried to follow her out of the gate because he wanted to go home with her.

Miss Henderson said: “He chases the car when we drive around the field and he even has ticklish spots.

“He has a personality and makes us all laugh every day.”

Sid helped to raise £50 for the charity Homeless International when people paid £1 each to guess his name.