Donkey rescued after jamming its head in gate

FIREFIGHTERS have rescued a donkey which got its head jammed between the bars of a metal gate at a New Forest farm.

The alarm was raised shortly after 9.30am on Monday amid reports the owner of three-year-old Jenny donkey Mable was having to hold up the fence to prevent her getting hurt.

A fire crew from Lyndhurst and an animal rescue team member were joined at Fishponds Piece Farm, off the main road between Emery Down and Stoney Cross, by a vet from Celtic Equine Vets.

Having been sedated, Mable was safely freed by 10.40am when the rescuers cut through one of the fence’s bars with a pedal cutter.

A post about the incident on Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service’s Twitter account said: “You silly ass! Mable the three-year-old donkey was in a bit of a tricky situation this morning.

“She was cut free with assistance from Celtic Equine Vets. Mable was unharmed during the rescue and left happy with her owner.”