SHEEP grazing the Malvern Hills could soon have hard-hitting South American bodyguards to protect them from dog and fox attacks.

The Malvern Hills Conservators are currently looking at guardian llamas as a method of saving its 360-strong flock from being savaged.

During the last six months, seven sheep have been destroyed by stray dogs, according to shepherd Richard Smith.

Dogs who attacked three sheep on the hills last month simply "ripped them apart", said Mr Smith.

Now he's considering bringing in the spitting heavyweights, who act aggressively towards potential attackers and employ high-pitched shrieks to warn the flock.

"It is a method used by farmers to protect sheep from dog and fox attacks around the country," said David Whitehorn, conservation officer for the Conservators.

"The llamas see themselves as belonging to the flock and look out for potential predators to protect them."

Although the furry protectors, which can measure up to 6ft 5in at head height, are used on agricultural land, Mr Whitehorn said research was currently being carried out to see how they would take to walkers and ramblers and how easily they could be managed on open grassland.

The Malvern Hill flock grazes scrub and old grasses to stop the pathways becoming overgrown.

They were reintroduced to the Malverns after a 50-year gap during which the paths became unnavigable.

The Conservators, who protect the sheep, plan to erect sheep "fact signs" to warn dog-walkers to keep their pets under control.