How do you teach a llama to give North Yorkshire children rides?

It's an unusual dilemma - but then Anne Stewart has an exceptionally unusual pet in her llama called Murphy.

And her solution to the problem was to enlist a teddy bear called George to act as a child substitute.

Anne, from Helmsley, made a special saddle for Murphy and attached George to it to get the llama used to the feel of something on his back.

Anne said she got Murphy when she worked at Woburn Safari Park and she took him with her when she moved to North Yorkshire to work at Flamingo Land zoo.

The llama has become a familiar sight in Helmsley as Anne takes him for walks around the town centre.

But Anne says she has to keep an eye out for horses. "He's OK with them, but they're frightened of him."

Murphy also plays a key role in the town's big community events. He was given a false hump at the Millennium to become a "camel", and he is set to grow temporary antlers to become a reindeer for Santa next Christmas.