House guest has meals on the hoof

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The family keep a donkey indoors

A family from Cornwall have opened their home to a rather unusual pet - a six-year-old donkey called Holly.

The former Irish street donkey came to live with the Ferrier family in Bude nearly three years ago.

She is allowed to roam freely inside the house, sharing meals in the kitchen with the family of four and sitting by the fireside in the living-room.

Jackie Ferrier said Holly was "one of the family" so it made sense to let her make herself at home.

I guess some people who are house-proud would think it's eccentric but to us it's just normal Jackie Ferrier

Mrs Ferrier said: "She's always been allowed indoors.

"It's just part of family life now. She's one of the family, why shut her outside.

"I guess some people who are house-proud would think it's eccentric, but to us it's just normal."

Holly was pregnant when she came to live with the family and her one-year-old colt Charlie now lives with them too.

They have a number of other animals, including ducks and cats, though not all of them spend as much time indoors as Holly.

Mrs Ferrier's husband Tim said: "When I first met Jackie I only had one dog of my own.

"Since then I've grown to own lots of animals as we've grown together."