A FAMILY in Hatton received an unlikely pet when they decided to raise a goat in their own home.

Hatton Hall Farm is a family business which is home to cows, horses and Pygmy goats, one of which had to be taken in last year after its mother rejected it.

Jack Longton, 22, said: "Ernie was born on December 19 last year with a twin.

"I got a call at work saying we had got a new goat.

"He wasn't able to stand up or anything and his mother rejected him.

"So we took him in and he lived in our kitchen for a while; there was a lot of mess!

"He definitely wouldn’t have survived if we hadn’t taken him in because he was on his last legs.

"He started walking after the first week or so and we took him out for walks on a lead.

"He was bottle-fed on milk for 10 weeks and we were up at all times of the day and night to feed him and keep him warm.

"We started off with three goats and they were all fine but these were the mother's first babies so she didn't quite know what to do."

Now he is out with the other animals, Ernie even knows his own name, just like the dogs.

Jack added: "When Ernie was stronger, at first we were a bit worried about reintroducing him to the other goats but now he's alright and in the paddock he just does his own thing.

"He was raised with our six dogs so he's really nice and friendly and likes a stroke, just like the dogs.

"He also knows his name and will come running over to you; none of the other goats do that.

"I take him the left-over fruit from work which would be thrown away and he loves it.

"I would definitely do it again. Although it was hard work in the beginning, it was worth it to see him now."

Ernie is now a fully fledged goat and is thriving in his new outdoor home at Hatton Hall Farm.