IF I recall correctly, it was the pneumatic Pamela Anderson, who, in one of her more memorable films, became extremely aggravated if someone said something she didn't like.

"Don't call me 'babe'," she'd growl, before felling the unfortunate miscreant with a blow to his nether regions.

It's the same with alpacas.

"Don't call me a llama," they'll warn. Although they're far too timid to carry the threat any further.

However, confusion by the uninitiated is understandable. Because alpacas do look a bit like llamas, if you're not really sure what llamas look like.

They come from South America, mainly Peru, Bolivia and Chile, but are fast becoming a familiar sight in the British countryside.

At the recent Three Counties Countryside Show, alpacas almost stopped the show in the livestock areas, with crowds gathering to gaze at the woolly creatures that appear to be the result of an amorous encounter between a sheep and a passing camel.

Their growing popularity was recognised by alpaca classes at the three-day event for the very first time.

It was also a sign of how much things have changed in the last seven years, for back in 1996 the British Alpaca Society was formed with only 20 members. Now there are more than 400.

One of the quartet of owners who got the BAS on the road was Val Fullerlove from Hanley Castle and she puts a lot of it down to that good old BBC institution Woman's Hour.

"I've always been interested in spinning and weaving," she explained.

"And I was listening to Woman's Hour one day when they began talking about alpacas and the wonderful fleeces they produce.

"They're a bit like cashmere.

"At the time, which was about 12 years ago, I didn't know anything about the animals and it was difficult to find out much anyway because there were only 12 owners in the country.

"Then lo and behold, I saw an advertisement that said the very first sale of alpacas in Britain was to take place at the Three Counties Showground.

"I'd been all over the country trying to find out about alpacas and there they were coming to our doorstep."

Val went to the show purely to look and promptly came home with a young male alpaca.

"I just couldn't resist it," she laughed.

In the sensible belief you should never keep just one of any animal, because for the most part they like company, she immediately bought a female from Twycross Zoo.

So began Hanley Hall Alpacas, which now wins prizes all over the country with its animals.

I suppose the nearest equivalent farm animal in Britain would be sheep. Indeed, in their home environment, alpacas are likened to sheep for their fleeces, while llamas are considered beasts of burden, much like donkeys.

"But alpacas are a lot easier to keep than sheep," added Val. "I know. I've kept sheep."

Ironically, one problem over here is that the pasture can sometimes be too rich, especially in spring.

Alpacas are used to living in the plains of the Andes off scrub ground with little shelter and over feeding over here can affect the quality of their fleece.

This is extremely warm and very soft and is in great demand in the fashion and furnishings industries.

"Alpacas are shorn once a year in early summer," said Val.

"Afterwards they almost look like different animals, because you see their neck is actually only about a quarter the size it appears with a full coat on."

Alpacas have a couple of distinct advantages over most stock.

Firstly, they only give birth in the morning, so there is no sitting up on dark nights worrying.

This is because in their natural habitat, this gives time for the youngster - called a cria - to dry out before the chill of the night, when a wet baby would freeze to death.

Secondly, they all dung in the same place in a paddock, unlike cows and sheep, which tend to scatter it about. This allows a paddock to be cleaned out fairly effectively and prolongs its use.

Also, as the alpaca has a soft foot pad, it doesn't "poach" grassland like horses or cattle.

Their only drawback, for the touchy-feely type of person, is that they don't really liked to be touched or felt too much.

Alpacas are naturally a prey animal and rather timid and nervous. They won't come purring round you like a cat or want their back scratched like a dog. They tend to keep their distance from humans, whom they treat with some suspicion.

Although, with time and effort, they will accept some handling and will eat from your hand.

Today there are about 10,000 alpacas in Britain.

How much do they cost? Well, a young gelding will fetch £500-£800, while a pregnant female will range from £5,000 to £10,000. Like Pamela Anderson, they don't come cheap.