MORE than 400 supporters of RSPCA Lockwood Donkey Centre, in Wormley, enjoyed a festive treat in the countdown to Christmas.

Clyde the donkey took centre stage at the fundraising open day event, which concluded with a short service and carols led by the Donkey Ladies Choir and made more than £3,000 in aid of the centre for rescue donkeys, horses and ponies.

Supervisor Rhanna Graco told The Herald: “Clyde is in the Donkey Barn with the choir and the children were able to say hello to him.

“It was a special event all about how special donkeys are at Christmas.

“We lost one of our donkeys and one of our mules this year due to old age and we had a special memorial to them both, where visions could put candles and remember those they had lost.

“Maggie May and Humpty, who died, were very special to us.

“They had both been at the centre for a very long time. Humpty was here when the RSPCA took it over in 2006.”