Anyone facing long days at work this month should spare a thought for a farm manager putting in 14 hour shifts to help deliver lambs.

Richard Clay is in the middle of lambing season with the 500-plus sheep he looks after, which normally graze around Ongar and the Copped Hall Estate near Epping.

He said: “It’s been going well and we’ve got a lot of healthy lambs.

“It’s a very intensive job because it runs 24 hours a day – they don’t just stop because it’s a Sunday.”

The ewes from the flock of Texels and cross breeds, which is owned by the Chisenhale-Marsh family, are having their lambs at Horns Farm in Fiddlers Hamlet, near Epping, where Mr Clay is living.

The 60-year-old, who has been managing the flock since his father retired from the job in 1987, said: “I get up at 5am and start at 6am, then hand over to the night shepherd at about 7.30pm or 8pm.

“I enjoy this time of year. Different seasons give you different jobs to do.”