Woolly yarn about a 22-stone sheep who is kept as a family pet

He hogs the television, won't go to his room  -  and has even been known to raid the biscuit barrel.

Unlike the average child, however, he's more than happy to mow the lawn.

It's a sheep's life: David Palmer with his three-year-old, 22-stone pet Nick Boing

The sheep  -  whose full name is Nick Boing, because of his 'bouncy' personality  -  was rescued by former coach driver David Palmer three years ago, when he was just a newborn.

The 53-year- old found the sick lamb in overgrown grass on a trip to a nature reserve with his partner Caroline Clements, 54, and their 13-year-old son Nathan.

'There were no other sheep about so we picked him up,' he said. 'I didn't know anything about sheep so I took him to the nearest farm and left my name, but nobody contacted me and he came with us.

'Caroline had a baby bottle left from when Nathan was little so we fed him some milk and within an hour he was running around.'

The family twice tried leaving Nick with farmers, but he refused to go near other sheep and would not settle.

Sheep about town: Nick Boing enjoys being taken for a walk just like a dog

Now he has his hooves firmly under the table at Mr Palmer's house. He has his own purpose-built bungalow, complete with a carpet and windows, in the family's back garden.

But the 22-stone ram prefers to spend his evenings watching television in the living room, so he head butts the cushions out of the way and settles down on the sofa. Nick's nightly TV sessions usually end around 11pm, when he is given a swede or an apple and is firmly ushered outside to sleep.

Can we watch Heartbleat?: David and Nick the Sheep settle down in front of the television

However, as a lamb he was sometimes allowed to stay the night in Mr Palmer's bed.

In the mornings, Nick likes nothing better than to lie in the front doorway watching the world go by.

'He's part of the family,' said Mr Palmer, of Rhiwbina in Cardiff. 'He's more intelligent than your average sheep that's stuck in a field. He's in the house and in the car and meeting people. He's good company and he knows what's what.'

Back sheep driver: Nick Boing accompanies Mr Palmer on a trip out in his car

Mr Palmer added: 'If the biscuit barrel is out he'll butt it on the floor because he knows that the lid will come off.'

The Welshman concedes that his home 'probably smells' but says that he is used to it.

He added: 'Nick loves being shampooed and will lie on his back with his legs in the air for me to wash him. He's generally quite clean.'

Nick Boing as a lamb with Nathan