A BABY boom has hit a mid Cheshire tourist attraction since the New Year.

Four foals have been born in five weeks at Cotebrook Shire Horse Centre with the first born on January 3 and the latest on February 8.

The three fillies and one colt are now in need of names and the centre is running its annual ‘Name Our Foals Competition’.

The only rules are that colts are named after Scottish mountains and fillies after Scottish lochs.

Janet King, who runs the centre with her husband Alistair, said: “At the moment the foals are being looked after in the stables, rather than out in the fields, so visitors have a wonderful opportunity to see them up close at just a few weeks old.

“They are proving very popular with visitors and as our aim is to breed Shires and help to preserve this old English breed, which is on the rare breeds watch list, we are delighted to have so many foals born so far with more to come.”

Four more foals are due to be born at the centre, on the A49, in the next couple of months.

For more information visit cotebrookshirehorses.co.uk.