These cute 'skinny pigs' got a chance to enjoy some sunshine after warm weather finally came to the North East.
After a gloomy start to the week, the sun came out on Thursday and brought temperatures of up to 19C.
And these eight skinny pigs at Whitehouse Farm, in Morpeth , Northumberland , were let out - but only after they had factor 50 suncream lathered all over them.
Heather Hogarty, from the farm, said: "Skinny pigs are hairless guinea pigs. They only have a little tuft of wiry hair on the nose and paws.
"They like to be kept between 24 and 26 degrees. They like the warmth and we get them outside when it's warm.
"But we are using 50 factor suncream. We have to use a suncream which is sensitive, the kind you would use on young children.
"Because they don't have hair, their skin is really sensitive and they are really susceptible to burn.
"The skinny pigs love going out in the sun. And the visitors think they are really ciute."
The animals , called Peppa, Boris, Blake, Tiny, Caramel, Pippin, Molly and Tilly, are pampered all year round. Aloe Vera gel or coconut oil is applied to their skin throughout the year.
With the warm weather, staff at the farm are also finding ways of keeping the other animals cool.
Heather said: "This heat is affecting them quite a lot. They are not used to this heat and they are sweltering.
"We do different things, like we can put fruit for the meerkats in ice blocks so that gives them a little bit of enrichment and they can cool down.
"A lot of the other animals we are just having to spray down with a hose. The emus and pigs have been enjoying that."
