A woman has discovered a newfound love of the outdoors after moving to a rural village and buying a dozen alpacas.

Karen Collier, 47, of Hackmans Lane, Cock Clarks, owner of a fashion recruitment business, now enjoys spending hours outside in her wellies tending her unusual pets.

She said: “We moved to Cock Clarks about three years ago from South Woodham Ferrers.

“We were spending £100 a month having our field cut and so we decided to get alpacas.

“We got twelve all in one go and then my friend gave me two more, so now we have 14.

“Their fleece is very good quality, it’s a luxury yarn.”

Karen and her husband Richard, 50, an investment banker, sell alpaca products via Amazon.