AN ICE cream farm has launched a competition to name its first new born Highland calf.

Hawkshaw Farm, home of Mrs Dowson's Ice Cream, Clayton-le-Dale, saw the birth of the calf to mother cow Wookie on Sunday night.

Owner Amanda Dowson said she was launching the contest to celebrate the birth and hopes it will be the first of many.

"She's ever so cuddly like a teddy bear. We are after a name people might think appropriate, it's just a bit of fun really."

Wookie is named due to her similarity to the hairy character from the Star Wars films.

The farm also has a sheep called Shaun, after the character in Wallace and Gromit.

"We want people to think of a name that will go with the rest of the menagerie," added Mrs Dowson.

Suggestions can be put in a box in the farm, and the prize is a family ticket to the farm's maze, a meal at the farm's on-site restaurant, and some ice cream to take home.

About 20 chicks were also born at the weekend and can be seen at the farm along with the new calf.

The farm has a 200-strong herd of cows producing milk for the ice cream.

The farm opened in 1964, and four years ago started producing its own ice cream.

This is the first year it has opened a maze in a field.

Mrs Dowson said it had been so popular that it would be put on again next year.