Telford hosts top alpaca exhibition - in photos

Hundreds of alpacas and their owners travelled from across the country to the BAS National Show, held in Telford for the fifth consecutive year.

There the curious animals were put on show in the exhibition halls, with breeders, vets and members of the public alike getting the opportunity to see animals of all sizes, colours and hairstyles in between rounds of judging for fleece and healthy bodies.

One of the breeders in attendance was Janet Ireland of Shropshire, who along with husband Paul runs Titus Alpacas near Baschurch, selling socks made with the fibre.

The pair brought their male, Odin, and female, Delta, to compete in the show, and Janet said she was delighted to have a premier event for alpaca enthusiasts right on her doorstep.

She said: "We feel really lucky that they bring the national show to Shropshire. When you think about it's a good central location and people have come from all over, Cornwall, Kent, I think there's some from the Isle of Wight.

"I believe we're the only ones from Shropshire who have come to compete.

"They're lovely animals to have around. If anyone is looking to improve their quality of life an alpaca is perfect. They are gentle, and inquisitive, and their fibre is brilliant.

"I think to have a weekend here with hundreds of like minded people and a few hundred alpacas is great fun."

The event helped raise funds for the Severn Hospice, with the price of admission going entirely to the charity.

People from Telford and further afield were drawn to the international centre over the weekend to see the unusual animals, and to buy products of fibre.

As well as the exhibition halls filled with the alpacas themselves, a number of stalls were set up for businesses to sell their fibre wares, and to host demonstrations of how the fibre is processed.

Emma Overend said she saw the alpacas being unloaded and was intrigued.

"It's great to see, it's unusual in Telford", she said. "I brought my little boy along and he loves them too."

Hilary Wyatt of Woodside said: "I saw alpacas on television and thought I had to come along to this. They're beautiful animals here and it's nothing like seeing them on telly.

"There's so many here and some of them have come from so far away. There isn't enough time to see all of them."

Alpacas have been domesticated for thousands of years for their fibre, which can be used to make clothing in a similar way to wool. They are native to Peru, but populations have popped up in Britain and Australia because of their valuable coats.

They are social animals, usually living in family groups with one dominant alpha male.

The fluffy camelids are popularly known as gentle, intelligent and observant, but can sometimes become aggressive and some farmers in the USA even use them as guards to protect sheep from coyotes and other predators.

They are similar to llamas, and the two are often confused and can even cross-breed.