Most of Little Ash Eco-farm's 18 animals were sold at auction at the farm in Throwleigh, near Okehampton, on Saturday.

But their owner, Dr Marthe Worthington, said a few were still in need of a new home.

Dr Worthington, an academic specialising in agriculture and animal welfare, is selling off the site before moving to France where she plans to set up a new eco-living project.

Llamas are very cheap to keep Dr Marthe Worthington

Little Ash Eco-farm is a self-sufficient 60-acre farm which produces its own energy, food and water.

Dr Worthington bred the animals for their fine alpaca wool which can be made into garments.

A number of female llamas sold for around £1,000 each, with the castrated ones fetching several hundred pounds apiece.

She said the creatures would be easy for any farmer or landowner to look after.

She said: "Llamas are very cheap to keep and they are great fun.

"As companions they become very tame very quickly. They only spit when they are frightened.

"They are very sociable animals so we said they must be bought in pairs. They can live with sheep, cows or horses in a field and fit well into the grazing pattern."