It’s not the usual pet you might see on a summer stroll, but the great-great-grandson of Salts Mill saviour Sir James Roberts had three alpacas with him as he left the village to walk to the Yorkshire Dales.

Jamie Roberts donned Victorian dress for the journey to his home at Kilnsey Park, as part of its 35th anniversary celebrations.

The 38-year-old was also marking the 120th anniversary of Sir James taking over Salts Mill from the family of the founder, Sir Titus Salt, and saving it from bankruptcy.

As the mill’s fortunes, and those of his family, were largely built on spinning alpaca wool, Jamie decided it was a fitting tribute to start the walk with the camelid trio before they take up residence at Kilnsey Park.

He said: “Bringing home the alpacas to Kilnsey is a fantastic way of celebrating my family’s heritage and connections with Salts Mill. The success of the mill enabled my ancestors to purchase the Kilnsey Estate in 1911.”

The alpacas were bred at Carlshead Farm near Wetherby.