Meet the Army's new recruit - a ram

An Army regiment has been putting its new sheep mascot through its paces.

Pte Derby XXXIII was officially selected by the Duke of Devonshire from his flock at the Chatsworth Estate in Derbyshire to become the new mascot of the Mercian Regiment.

The ram, which will be used for ceremonial purposes, also gets a wage to buy his rations and even takes a Christmas holiday for a re-ewe-nion at Chatsworth's petting farm.

The tradition dates back to 1858 when the first Pte Derby was acquired by the 95th (Derbyshire) Regiment of Foot, and became the mascot of the Mercian Regiment when it formed in 2007.

Video journalist: Kacper Misiarz

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