JOE Brandt's friends thought he was telling porkies when he told them about the latest litter delivered on his Herefordshire pig farm.

And the smallholder admits even he did not believe his eyes when he saw the 19 piglets born to his hefty sow.

Mr Brandt, who runs his Pork and Two Veg business with wife, initially thought a smaller number of babies had been born.

"When I went to bed I counted 15 but I came down the following morning to find four more," he said.

"I couldn't believe my eyes – I had to ask a friend to count them. I believe the world record stands at 27 but that was for a cross-breed so this is still a great effort."

Both the mother, Mrs Miggins, and the father, Bernard, are named after Blackadder characters and are now enjoying some down time on the Woolhope farm.

They are among the 60 pigs on the farm which has grown in number since the business was launched six years ago.

"I'm a tree surgeon really," added Mr Brandt. "We began this as a side business to supply local shops and restaurants with pork and sausages, but is has really taken off."

The recent arrivals will ensure the company is still bringing home the bacon for sometime yet.