World Cup fever grips some unlikely England fans
England's newest supporters are fluffy, furry and very noisy
A group of baby guinea pigs have become unlikely England football supporters after animal keepers discovered they squeal with excitement when Three Lions matches are played to them.
Staff at Wicksteed Park in Kettering began showing football games to the six four-month-old guinea pigs as part of efforts to help them become accustomed to human voices and everyday sounds.
But keepers soon noticed the furry youngsters appeared to be particularly enthusiastic when England were playing.
The animals, which live in the park's Wicky's Farmyard attraction, now regularly gather around a mobile phone playing match highlights.
Keepers say the guinea pigs "wheek" – a loud, high-pitched squeal used to express excitement – whenever they hear the sounds of the crowd and commentators.
They were at their noisiest during England's 4-2 victory over Croatia, with staff reporting a chorus of wheeks when Harry Kane found the net.
The discovery has prompted keepers to nickname the animals after England stars, including Harry, Jordan and even Thomas, after manager Thomas Tuchel.
Wicksteed Park director Kelly Richardson said the football broadcasts were initially introduced as a way of helping the guinea pigs settle into their surroundings.
She said: "We've discovered that World Cup matches or highlights, with the noise of the crowd and the sound of the commentators, are a great way to do this, but we didn't realise that they would enjoy it so much, particularly when England are playing."
The animals' enclosure has now been decorated with England flags as staff embrace their reputation as the national team's smallest fans.
Wicksteed Park's Wicky's Farmyard is home to a range of animals including pigs, giant continental rabbits, ducks and chickens, and is one of the attractions on the park's 281-acre estate.
Richardson added: "Baby guinea pigs are naturally quite shy, so playing them human voices and sounds which replicate the general noise around the park helps them to settle into their new environment.''
For now, the guinea pigs will be hoping England's football fortunes continue – giving them more reasons to wheek from the sidelines.
"If England win I think it'll be a deafening week because they're quite loud at the best of times. With that level of excitement, it's going to be off-the-charts noisy."