Training session at the sheep station

MAARTEN HOLL/The Dominion Post

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Sheep milled about Wellington railway station for the filming of a British advert yesterday.

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Once destined for the dinner plate, this flock are now set to star on the small screen in front of more than 60-million people.

About 40 trained sheep hoofed their way in to Wellington railway station yesterday to be filmed as part of a British advertisement, believed to be for a rail company.

Caroline Girdlestone, head sheep-trainer from Kapiti's Hero Animals, said the sheep were "quite lovely, reliable performers" who, despite first impressions, are very smart.

"Sheep have been pulling the wool over our eyes for years," Ms Girdlestone said.

"They are like woolly dolphins, affectionate and interested in things around them."

It was a debut performance for the flock, who had been plucked straight from the paddock to undergo 20 days of specialist training for their role.

Hero Animals also trained sheep for the comedic-horror movie Black Sheep.

Bemused train commuters walked through the bizarre scene, many taking pictures with camera-phones as the farm animals wandered through the building's main atrium.

A spokesman for the production said New Zealand was chosen as the location to shoot because British sheep were all shorn for summer and Kiwi sheep still had their thick winter coats on.

- © Fairfax NZ News