GRUMPY old Eeyore would never have approved - but a group of his relatives are living the high-life in a luxury holiday camp for donkeys.

Youngsters from the region are learning how to care for donkeys at a week-long camp near Thirsk, North Yorkshire.

As well as tips on how to pick stones out of hooves and how to get donkeys ready for shows, the children also take a first aid course and will have talks from mounted police officers and the RSPCA.

But, unlike the more conventional pony club camps, this version leaves out the show jumping - although the younger children do go on donkey treks.

Karen Webb, a member of the Donkey Breed Society who is helping run the event, said: "You would be amazed at how many donkeys there are around.

"They so much want to please you and they are such willing animals. They are also very intelligent - a donkey will learn a task a lot quicker than a horse."

Most of the 17 youngsters at the camp have brought their own donkeys, although they can borrow one to look after for a week from Diane and Ron Robinson, who are hosting the event.

The camp, which is being supported by BP, is one of only two in the country, alongside one held at the Donkey Sanctuary in Devon.

According to Mrs Webb, its popularity - with children already booking up for next year - is a sign that donkeys are coming back into fashion.

She said: "A lot of families have bought donkeys but, as the children get older, their interest goes and they go on to ponies and horses. However, it seems there are still some children who want to come to camp to look after the donkeys.

"They are very much coming back into fashion as a pet or doing reasonable work and they live for between 40 and 50 years, so they last people a long time."

The camp, at Mount Pleasant Farm, Hutton Sessay, will be opening its doors to the public from noon on Saturday.