The odd-looking beasts were spotted in a field outside Dudley, North Tyneside, happily munching away at grass.

The colourful show was spotted by a passing photographer who said he thought the farmer must have got a little carried away with his spray can.

Only around half a dozen of the flock of around 60 sheep were completely covered in blue - the others were allowed to remain white, with just blue numbers painted on their coats.

The embarrassed farmer, who asked not to be named, said: "I take your point they do look unusual."

He explained that the rams, or "tups" were marked with a blue dye which is transferred onto a ewe once she has been serviced, so he would know which females were "in lamb".

But before the rams get to the ewes, they often fight, covering each other in blue dye.

The farmer laughed: "They get a bit bored before they get let out and start fighting with each other.

"That's how they start covering each other in blue dye, while the ewes just get a bit of blue on their backs.

"If you look closely, the all-blue ones are the daddies. I'm going to get my leg pulled around here about all this."

The farmer said the ewes and rams were put together early in the season so the lambs are ready for the spring market.

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