ABERGAVENNY businessman Anthony Davies loves nothing more than taking his four-legged alpaca friends for walks along the lanes near his home.

The managing director of building construction company, Anthony A Davies Ltd, and his director wife Dawn regularly walk their four alpacas and three donkeys along the country lanes near his home.

"I take the alpacas and donkeys for walks around the lanes, just like I would the dogs," said Mr Davies, 53.

"Everyone who passes stops and asks us what they are."

The couple have two male alpacas named Dudley and Dylan and two females named Dulcet and Dorcus, who is on loan to the family, as well as donkeys Sally, Belle and Meg together with chickens, ducks, two dogs and a cat.

Mrs Davies, 50, said they fell in love with alpacas after seeing them at local agricultural shows.

"We wanted to find a way to keep the grass down on our acre of land and decided to buy alpacas," she said.

The animals are shorn during the summer and the fleece is spun into wool so that Mrs Davies’ aunt can use it to knit the couple and their sons Nathan, 22 and Matthew, 19 jumpers.

The alpacas are kept in a field at the couple’s home and eat grass and camel food.

"They originate from the mountains of Peru and can survive in extreme conditions.

They are far easier to manage than sheep and are very sociable and friendly," explained Mr Davies.

He added: "Some people think it’s a bit mad but it’s a great way to de-stress."