Cuts begin to bite as care home recruits donkey

Faced with a dramatic cut in funding, one care home has resorted to hiring a donkey to provide support for residents.

I'm only joking of course. What's really happening here is the result of savage cuts at the Care Quality Commission which has recruited a team of donkeys to carry out inspections as part of a desperate bid to save money.

Sorry, I'm joking again. This is actually a rather nice story about Rusty the donkey, who paid a visit to Hurst Hall care centre in Ashton. Apparently residents very much enjoyed stroking and petting the donkey, from the Elizabeth Svensden Trust. Pictured with Rusty is Hurst Hall resident Lillian Davis.