AN organic farm is set for national TV exposure after hosting filming with a former pop star.

Former JLS member JB Gill was among BBC staff who spent two days at Gazegill Organic Farm in Rimington preparing an episode of 'Down on the Farm'.

Mr Gill joined the boy band UFO, later known as JLS, in 2006 and remained as the band enjoyed big success until the members decided to split up in 2013. Now a farmer, he became one of the main presenters on 'Down on the Farm', a CBeebies programme known as a 'Countryfile' for junior viewers, two .

Ian O’Reilly, who with his partner Emma Robinson runs Gazegill Organic Farm in Cross Hill Lane, said Mr Gill had been very approachable during his time there.

Mr O'Reilly said: "JB is such a natural with the children and he is so down to earth.”

The episode filmed at Gazegill focused on summer and in particular how pigs manage to keep cool and avoid sunburn in hot weather.

The children of Emma and Ian, nine-year-old Isabel and Oliver, seven, took part and helped Mr Gill present the piece.

Mr O'Reilly added: “The episode shows the family preparing a pig pen complete with wallow and then turning Mary, the sow, out into the pen with her piglets.

"Isabel and Oliver both enjoyed their day filming and were given permission by the education authority to be at home for the day to take part." Isabel and Oliver attend Gisburn Primary School.

Gazegill has been farmed by the Robinson family for nearly five centuries. Species-rich hay meadows, a medieval ridge and furrow, dew ponds and a Roman road form some of the farm's many archaeological features.

The farm has a number of traditional and indigenous breeds that suit its low-input, low-impact attitude to agriculture.

As an approved farm visit centre it hosts more than 250 school and group visits per year, which are focused on sustainable agriculture, healthy lifestyle and learning about environment and farming.

As the programme will show, the method pigs use to keep themselves cool in the summer is to wallow in mud because they don't have sweat glands.

The episode is expected to be broadcast this year.