A BLACKBURN internet entrepreneur is hoping to get people flocking to his new website -- by advertising on the side of sheep.

Abbey Telecom, which installs telephone systems and voicemail, has teamed up with Lancashire livestock farmer Andrew Taylor to design the waterproof coats which will be worn by early spring lambs to protect them from the weather.

Each of the coats will carry an ad for Abbey Telecom's new website.

Managing Director of Abbey Telecom Tony Raynor came up with the idea after meeting Mr Taylor at a Round Table dinner last month.

The Blackburn company's sponsoring of the farmers' lambs will help pay for the financial loss suffered during the foot and mouth crisis.

Mr Raynor, who runs Abbey Telecom from Higher Church Street in Blackburn, said: "The sponsorship deal gets us a field full of lambs on a prominent road into Lytham, which is home to a large number of company directors.

"This is just the type of target audience we are hoping to attract.

"The telecommunications market is very competitive and we constantly have to seek new ways to bring the company to people's attention to remind people we are strong in our chosen field. Shepherding visitors to our e-commerce site will be of paramount importance to our success."

Abbey Telecom started in 1992 and launched its web site in 1996. The new site, an on-line catalogue, was launched in January this year.

Andrew Taylor, who runs a livestock farm of cows and sheep outside Lytham, said: "We suffered a particularly rainy start to February and like all farmers we are still affected by foot and mouth. As you can imagine cash for creature comforts like lamb raincoats is hard to come by. Advertising revenue is not normally an option for farmers, but necessity is the mother of invention."