A sheep farmer faced with the prospect of selling his flock has opted for a rather unconventional new abode – a shepherd hut.

Sussex farmer Jo Shippam was faced with the tough decision of buying land to continue his life-long work of sheep farming or selling up and moving to a town.

Determined to continue his livelihood and not fork out a fortune, Mr Shippam invested in a shepherd hut to live in all year round.

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Mr Shippam, of Hurst Green, purchased the hut from Somerset-based Blackdown Shepherd Hut.

He said: “Rising house prices in rural Sussex are being pushed even higher by the lack of supply.

“With energy prices rocketing and wider environmental concerns of new-build bricks and mortar, a traditional purchase at this stage did not seem the wisest solution.”

Mr Shippam and his 11-yearold daughter now proudly reside in the 16ft by 7ft moveable shepherd hut on his 37- acre Yew Tree Farm, right next to his 70-strong flock of sheep.

Mr Shippam added: “After weighing things up and looking at the options I realised a Blackdown Shepherd Hut offers the mobile living space I could design and decorate, an attractive return on investment if I come to sell and vital overflow accommodation should traditional bricks and mortar tempt me back.”

The hut is built on strong oak chassis and has an allweather metal-clad exterior that is robust enough to withstand the elements for years to come.

Inside the walls have been painted yellow with a white ceiling and decorated with a solid oak floor, oak sills and shelves and a fully-fitted Louie Ranger wood-burning stove.

Blackdown’s innovative use of eco-friendly sheep wool insulates the wall cavities and double glazed windows ensure the hut remains cosy and warm even during the cold winter months.

Mr Shippam added: “The cosy Blackdown hut is a terrific buy offering me traditional, timeless accommodation, unobtrusive to the Sussex countryside.”