HOUSE sales negotiator Carole England went beyond the call of duty by becoming a foster-granny to two litters of gerbils belonging to her customers.

Carole, who works for Lovell Homes in Colne, lent a helping hand when Tina and Richard Pearson moved house from Sheffield to Pendle Rise, Colne, by looking after their two pet gerbils -- Utterly and Butterly.

But what she didn't bargain for was the arrival of nine baby gerbils just two weeks into their stay at her house, in the Holt House area of Colne.

That was enough of a surprise, as Carole and the Pearsons thought that Utterly and Butterly were both girls, but there was a further shock this week -- the arrival of six more pups!

Carole said: "I am an animal lover, so I was only too happy to do whatever I could to make the move go smoothly.

"Much to my surprise, within a fortnight of taking the pair home, two gerbils became eleven. I couldn't believe it because I just thought they were storing nuts under the straw and when I put my glasses on there they were all wriggling."

The pets were all handed back to the couple and most of them found new homes but as Carole was being photographed with the gerbils by the Lancashire Evening Telegraph, along came the second litter

And with a birth rate like that, within one year Utterly and Butterly could have 13, 215 descendants and be great, great, great grandparents!

Carole said: "It may be something to do with me because I have had three children myself and six grandchildren. I also have horses that have had babies so maybe it's something in the hormones.

"There is one gerbil left from the first litter and Tina asked me if I'd have it so it looks like it's coming home."

Tina and Richard, who teach at Sacred Heart Primary School, Church, and St Mary's Primary School, Burnley, are hoping to keep Utterly but have decided they may have to found a new home for Butterly to stop any more pups coming along.

Tina, who nicknamed Carole "Nanny Carole", said: "We got them from babies when a child at my old school brought them in. Richard is always insistent we have two of each pet so that they are not lonely and the girl's mother promised me they were both females. That was last July.

"We also have three frogs, birds and fish so I am keeping an eye on them because Carole's been in the house so you never know what could happen. We are thinking of opening a maternity ward." PICTURE: Richard Pearson and Utterly , and with Carole and Tina Gerbil factfile

Gerbils reach puberty and become sexually active between nine and 12 weeks old -- the same as mice.

The gestation period for gerbils lasts between 24 and 28 days.

Each litter can produce between one and ten pups. An average amount is between four and five pups.

Gerbils tend to live until they are around two or three years old.