Village donkey leads Easter walk

The idea is to inspire a healthier, chocolate-free event, organisers said.

A donkey, bought by a Gloucestershire village to carry residents' shopping, is to lead an Easter walk.

Teddy was hired a year ago to help people in Chalford, near Stroud, get their heavy bags up the steep, narrow lanes to their homes.

Many of the houses are isolated and inaccessible by car.

Teddy is to lead the village on its first official Easter Sunday walk to inspire a healthier, chocolate-free event, organisers said.

Anna Usborne, of the "donkey committee", said: "It's just over a year since we started the donkey project and it has gone really well.

Tradition revived

"Teddy certainly became a celebrity, we had media from around the world chasing him last year.

"Now he is going to lead our walk and as chocolate, children and donkeys are not a good mix, we're having a chocolate-free day."

Teddy revived an ancient tradition when he was bought in February last year.

Donkeys were employed to carry coal and food up the cobbled streets in the village until the 1930s.

Every Saturday morning, Teddy now walks up the slopes to houses to deliver local sausages, organic vegetables, bread, sweets, and newspapers.

Miss Usborne said Chalford's 500 residents were delighted with his efforts and many were expected to follow him on the mile-long walk starting at 1000 BST.