HENRY the calf, abandoned by his mother then taken in by a Swanage farmer, is proving an internet sensation.

The fragile calf was close to death when Ben Bowerman and his family decided against simply letting nature take its course.

They nursed him back to heath and documented his progress, posting the short episodes online for the masses.

Mr Bowerman said: “Not all calves survive, and there will be lots of farmers who will say it is a waste of money keeping him alive.

“I mean, economically it is stupid, but I didn’t think about the money.

“I think if you are going to be a farmer, you should have some kind of compassion.”

And the results are startling – an altogether more healthy looking 11-day-old seems to have the run of the farmhouse, relaxing in the kitchen and even chasing the two family collie dogs, Algy and Arthur.

Mr Bowerman, who runs 300-acre Godlingston Manor Farm, near Swanage, said: “The footage has proved a big hit, with lots of people asking me when the next instalment will be along.”

Video clips include Henry – who was named after the vacuum cleaner brand – acting like a family pet, being petted by Mr Bowerman’s wife, Catherine, and their two children, George, aged 11, and Isabel, nine.

Mr Bowerman, who has 59 cattle at the farm, said: “We have one of the largest colonies of Adonis Blue butterflies in the country and the cattle are here to help manage the grassland.

“At first he (Henry) was very sick and I didn’t think he would make it.

“Then as he progressed, I just though it would be nice to let others see this side of farm life. And he’s proving a big hit.”

Henry, who stays in a barn near the house, will eventually be re-introduced to the herd.