TWO new arrivals are ready to greet visitors at Longdown Activity Farm, near Ashurst.

Young alpacas Tommy and Chucky, pictured with their minder Kerry Pass, join the huge number of friendly farm animals already on display at the popular centre.

Goats, calves, donkeys, ponies and the alpacas are always on view and visitors may even get close enough to stroke them.

Alpacas come from South America, where they were a cherished treasure of the ancient Incas who lived in the Andes mountain range.

They were first imported to the US in 1984 and are now successfully raised and kept across the world.

They live for about 20 years, eat grasses and grow to around three feet high.

Alpacas are ideal for visitors to pet because they are gentle, easy to handle and don't bite or butt.

Longdown Activity Farm is open to visitors every day right up to Christmas, with a full range of activities on offer.

A special bonus this year will be Santa's grotto, which proved an enormous success last year.

This will be open daily from November 23 to December 22.