A farmer has created a new breed of sheep to celebrate the pandas at Edinburgh Zoo.

Half a dozen panda lambs have been born on Windy Gowl Farm in Carlops, Peebleshire so far this season.

With distinctive black rings around their eyes, they look just like new arrivals Tian Tian and Yang Guang.

Jill Noble said she was inspired by the Chinese visitors to breed the unusual sheep.

She said: "2011 was the year of the Panda and back in November there was a lot of hype about the pandas coming to Edinburgh Zoo. It was a fun idea and the sheep certainly showed the pandas a thing or two about producing babies.

"Everyone is very amused and very impressed by the appearance of these young lambs. Being female they can go on to be breeding ewes and it will be very interesting to see how their offspring turn out.

"We are calling it the panda breed. We do sell on Icelandic lambs as they look very nice so I imagine there will be a lot of interest in this new breed."

Ms Noble opened Pentland Hills Icelandics 24 years ago and breeds horses and Red Aberdeen Angus Cattle as well as having a 120-strong flock of sheep.