Francisco the 20-stone pig becomes 'mum' to lambs who were rejected by their mothers

A 20-stone pig who lives in a house has become 'mum' to a couple of poorly lambs who were rejected by their mothers.

Francisco, a Vietnamese pot-bellied cross, was initially sold as a 'micropig' as a birthday present for a 15-year-old girl before he had to be rehomed - and is now living in a three-bedroom house with owners Morag Sangster and John Ryan, both 55.

The married couple run Tribe Animal Sanctuary in Carluke, South Lanarkshire, and brought in tiny lambs MacAllan and Belzebob, who are being nursed back to health after becoming extremely unwell when they were rejected by their mothers.

Francisco the 20-stone pig and his owner picture: Katielee Arrowsmith

Now the lambs, aged around three weeks old, are snuggling up with four-year-old Francisco on a mattress - and clamber over his sleeping body while nibbling on his whiskers.

The gentle giant even rolls onto his back for the youngsters to bounce around on his belly - despite being pooed on, on one occasion.

Morag, who works as a tattoo artist, said: "The lambs love cuddling, and they like his big belly because he's so warm.

"He just gets on with it because he's an easy-going big guy.

"It's a match made in heaven really.

"They can get mischievous however, one day they jumped on top of him and done a poo on him.

"He wasn't too bothered though, to be honest.

"He's an easy-going laid-back guy taking everything in his stride, including the two lambs who have stolen his bed and are jumping all over him.

"Both the lambs were abandoned by their mothers at three weeks old.

"Belzebob was really small, and MacAllan had a spinal injury, so we took both into the house to bottlefeed until they got better.

"When we took them into the house, the first thing they went for was Francisco's bed in the conservatory.

"When he came in and saw Belzebob and MacAllan there, he just sat down next to them and they squeezed into him.

"He seemed to quite like them.

"We were quite worried at first, as lambs are quite lively and they were nibbling away on his hair.

"Yet he just rolled over and made a grunt he makes when he's content, so we knew he liked it.

"The dogs are always on hand to give out a warning if the lambs start getting too nippy.

"We're planning on keeping the lambs in for two or three weeks, if they become any bigger it may become an issue for Francisco.

"Right now however it's perfect.

"Francisco's been living in the house since he's been three months old and goes out for a wander during a day, but when the weather's bad he stays in.

"He's very settled here.

"We don't see it as mad in this house, but there's a lot going on here for sure.

"We've got over 100 animals at the farm so we are always ready for the unexpected.

"It's kind of normal here at the sanctuary because you never know what will happen."

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