IT is a double celebration for one of the Cotswold Farm Park's oldest residents which has just given birth to a happy and healthy nanny goat.

And three days later, Alice the Bagot goat also celebrated her 14th birthday.

Bagot goats, which have a normal life expectancy of about eight years, are the rarest breed on display at the farm park near Guiting Power with only about 200 remaining in the world.

Alice’s new addition is one of 12 expected goat kids at the Cotswold Farm Park this year.

Mike Caunter, the Farm Park’s Livestock Manager, said: "With the Bagot goat being our rarest breed at the Farm Park there is always more excitement and anticipation when they are kidding.

"It is important for the breed to increase in numbers so we always hope for lots of female kids. Alice has given birth to a female this year, which is her fifth daughter in our herd of 15 Bagot goats.”

The farm park, owned by farmer Adam Henson, has been running breeding programmes for rare farm animal breeds since 1971 when the park was established by Adam’s dad, Joe.

Richard Broad, Field Officer at the Rare Breeds Survival Trust, said: “The Bagot is the oldest native breed of goat in the United Kingdom, however it has struggled to find its place in the modern agricultural world.

"It is positive that they are able to breed successfully at such a great age. Hopefully the work of Cotswold Farm Park and all our other RBST approved farm parks will help increase numbers and conserve genetic diversity within the breed.”