It is a traditional sport that tends to conjure up images of old men in cloth hats wandering the fells making the hillsides ring to the shrieks of their whistles.

It is a traditional sport that tends to conjure up images of old men in cloth hats wandering the fells making the hillsides ring to the shrieks of their whistles.

But now sheepdog trials is making inroads into flatter terrain as two women launch their own answer to one man and his dog - in the Fens.

Sarah Jenkins and Claire Neal have set-up what is believed to be East Anglia's first sheepdog school - complete with sheep - at Wormegay, near King's Lynn.

Spurred on by the success of the BBC programme of the same name and the demise of foxhunting, it appears a new wave of canine-lovers are buying border collies to try out this most traditional of sports for themselves.

"The industry has moved on as people have more leisure time and realise there is access to land where they can train regularly," said Ms Jenkins.

"People want to know more about sheep dogs, there is this whole heritage attraction to it.

"We are talking about a dog that knows more about sheep than we are ever going to know."

Ms Jenkins, who has represented England at sheepdog trials and judges in events at home and abroad, works sheep with apparent ease.

Whistling vigorously as her dog Flynn scampers across the field, she insists anyone can learn the art and improve their dog's behaviour beyond measure.

"The training is somewhere between art and science," she said.

"People will sometimes phone me when they are in a terrible, terrible muddle with them because they can't control them or deal with them.

"How we move and teach the owner can have a tremendous impact on behaviour."

The business partners claim there has been a large rise in the number of people who want to train their border collies.

And the pair believe anyone, from children to adults, can train a pup for competition.

Whistles and spoken orders are based on four key instructions, go, stop, left and right.

Ms Jenkins said it can take up to two years to train both master and dog to competition standard.

"I'm never happier than when I'm working with one dog on the field," says Mrs Neal, who owns the farm with her husband.

"I had no interest in competition when I started out but I got persuaded to go into competition once and never looked back."

The pair are holding regular training sessions for border collie owners throughout the week.

Anglian Border Collies, as the business is known, can train dogs for farm work, advanced competition, or for those who just want to have a bit of fun.

For more information contact Claire Neal on 01553 810343 or Sarah Jenkins on 07724 193400.