A camel that was struggling to walk has a 'new lease of life' - after a cobbler made him a pair of shoes.

Shoemaker Stuart Moss received a phone call from Lady Chichester asking him to make a pair for for Timujin, aged 27.

He went to visit the camel at Little Durnford Manor in Wiltshire which is owned by the Earl of Chichester.

Stuart spent four months on the footwear and the humped animal is now said to be 'walking star with a big smile on his face'.

Stuart, of Mossy's Shoe Repairs in Salisbury, Wiltshire, said: "When I first got the phone call, I thought someone was having a bubble."

"But obviously it then transpired it was not a prank call."

"I never thought I would be making a pair of shoes for an animal - let alone a camel!"

Stuart went to visit Timujin for the first time in April, and explains how he was 'heartbroken' at witnessing the animals pain.

He said: "When he was walking, it broke my heart, his tendons had stretched, so he was walking on back of his legs."

"He just did not want to walk, and so because of his lack of movement his joints swelled up."

"I didn't know what to do at first, but I knew I could not say no!"

To make the unique pairs of shoes, Stuart filled two washing up bowls with kinetic sand to take an imprint of Timujin's feet which he could later fill with plaster - and when the shape was ready, Stuart and Michelle Bradford, his partner, made boots using leather, memory foam and a rubber sole.

Stuart explained how camels do not have a regular foot or hoof, but have soles that are similar to a 'big leather pad'.

After at least six separate fittings spanned over months of Stuart being 'neck deep in shoes every day, trying to run a shop and make a pair of shoes for a camel', Timujin tried them on - and Stuart admits the result was 'magic'.

He explained: "Since he had the shoes fitted, the swelling gone down."

"He now goes for walks everyday, and is bouncing around like there's no tomorrow."

"Before he never wanted to walk, but now he gets up, waits for his shoes and is off!"

"As he is 27, which is quite old for a camel, the shoes have given him new lease of life."

"In one of the photos he is smiling with a big smile - it is certainly a first for us both."

Michelle, who took Timujin out on one of his first walks with his new footwear, added: "He is the gentlest"

camel and seems to know we are helping him!"