Quest to find Blackpool donkeys (From The Bolton News)

Golborne care home resident finds animals on holiday close by

12:00pm Wednesday 24th March 2010 in North West

CARE home resident Alan Jennings set out on a quest to find Blackpool’s missing donkeys.

And armed with a bag of carrots the 81-years-old from Golborne House discovered the holidaying asses on a farm in Ashton.

Alan and his fellow residents at Golborne House, where he has lived for three months, had heard that the Blackpool donkeys hailed from Ashton Heath, where they return during the colder months.

Alan, pictured, was accompanied on his search by Lorraine Marshall, who arranges the residential home’s activities and outings.

She said: “It didn’t take long to locate the donkeys, but when we spotted them they were on the other side of a huge field. There was a public footpath running along the side of the field but it went off in the wrong direction.

“Alan suggested waving some carrots in the air to see if we could tempt them over and it worked. One by one, the donkeys came over to us. They were very friendly and very gentle.”

With Easter just around the corner, the donkeys will be returning to Blackpool very soon, but Alan and Lorraine hope to go and visit them again before they leave.