A NEW online community and advice website for Brits who keep livestock has launched.

The service, at www.petites-fermiers.com aims to bring together like-minded smallholders to share ideas and best practice.

It is gradually being updated with tips on breeding pigs, cattle, sheep and poultry, as well as growing vegetables and looking after exotic pets.

The English-language site also includes a notice board where smallholders can buy and sell items and a discussion forum.

The Association des Cochons en France is behind the site.

Its secretary, Kate Ball, said: “We're striving to reach out to the larger community all over France, and encourage local people to join together and create their own face-to-face groups.

“We believe that there is a great deal of untapped talent out there and we would love to spread that around.

“It's our hope as our popularity grows, and interest in us becomes more widespread, that we can spread out our activities to include other departments.”