A SHEEPDOG now stands guard over Huntington House’s life-size models of sheep after thieves stole one of the Hindhead care home’s model sheep and vandalised another.

Residents and villagers were dismayed when the model sheep, which stand at the entrance to Huntington House Drive, disappeared before Christmas.

But undaunted manager Charlie Hoare has now installed the sheepdog which now stands alongside the adult sheep and lamb model, all now firmly cemented to their “pasture”.

The care home, which has a flock of rare Ryeland sheep grazing in the grounds, also has a knitting circle for residents and the close-knit community knit baby clothes from the homegrown wool for charity.

Mr Hoare said: “We wanted to let people know that we have a flock of sheep down our drive and this was a novel way of doing it.

“We have had lots of positive comments from the local community about the model sheep and they put a smile on people’s faces as they drive by.”

The Hoare family have been running Huntington House since 1978, when nurse Marilyn started the business with husband Geoff, and son Charlie and daughter Sarah were brought up there.