Northumbrian Hill Farm has become the focal point for research into literacy in sheep. Ungawa Springboard, the shepherd at Hardup Farm, near Eglingham was astounded one morning, to see her ewes grazing in such a way as to spell out the word "THORAX". "At forst, Ah reckoned that sum charvas had borst inti me lammin feeld at forst leyt, an hoyed sum cobs doon, te mek the yaws stand in the shape of the lettaz, but efta a reyt gud deek, ther was ney cobs t' be foond. Aye, wi breed a gifted yaw roond heea, y'naa." A fortnight passed, and Ms Springboards lips were sealed, apparently for fear of ridicule from the local farming fraternity. " Wey, Ah cudint bileev me glimmaz, y'naa. Ad keyndv forgittn aboot the " THORAX" incident, but Ah waakt intiv me feeld again an heea th' aall are in big lettaz, eyteen sheep lang, spellin " MEAT IS MUR"." It is Ms Springboards assumption that her ewes must have overheard her favorite Smiths album from the cab of her tractor, but unfortunately, there weren’t enough of them to complete the sentence. Excited scientists are currently researching this astonishing phenomenon, and running tests with a big machine to ascertain whether or not the sheep are literate. Other sheep words witnessed by Ms Springboard, include "YIKES", "SEPTIC" and "TWEEZER" With her new found celebrity status, and the money that comes with it, Ungawa Springboard is set to increase her flock from 450 to 28,000 head, in the hope that they might, one day, write her a best selling novel.