A ONCE-neglected Shetland pony found the companionship it was craving when its owner took on another two animals.

Bisto has been at High Pasture Farm, near West Auckland, County Durham, for two years, since being re-homed by the Ramshaw Rescue Centre, in Teesdale.

Prior to that, it was abandoned, with cancerous testicles and a badly damaged eye, that had to be removed.

Two more ponies, mother and son Elder May and Prince, arrived at the Ramshaw Rescue centre last month when their former keeper could no longer cope.

The pair had never been separated and centre manager Kate Wilson did not want that to change.

She said: "The difficulty is finding people willing to take on two animals.

"But we have done quite a lot of work with Mandy Vincett, who had already took on Bisto, and she was willing to help.

"I think Bisto was beginning to think he was a sheep because he is very small and surrounded by them up there.

"Animals like Bisto need their own kind and he loves being with his new friends."

Mandy said: "Bisto was a very nervous animal when we first got him, he would not let anyone come near him. But has taken to the two ponies absolutely brilliantly."

"If I had known that he needed a companion I would have got some more ponies along time ago."

The Ramshaw Rescue Centre, funded by charitable donations and staffed by volunteers, is looking for support.

For more information, call (01388) 834644.