Katie Franks’s alpaca, Costa, was Reserve Champion and First in his class, (grey male ’huacaya’) at the Devon County Show.

Costa is 10 months old and was one of five ’crias’ (young alpacas) which Katie took to the show.

She bought her first pair of alpacas 8 years ago and now has 17.

Alpacas evolved originally in the High Andes in Peru and Chile and have become hugely popular throughout the country.

Their fleece is of high quality and soft like cashmere. It is made into knitwear and suits and is also used for pillows and duvets.