SHERGAR, Abbie and Dixie weren't the most sociable wedding guests, but at least they didn't ruin the church carpet.

The trio of donkeys were invited to watch Kelly Gibbs and long-term boyfriend Antony Bramley tie the knot because Kelly could not bear to have her big day without her favourite workmates.

The couple, from Cherry Close, Honiton, are both employed at the Sidmouth Donkey Sanctuary, where animal-mad Kelly, 31, cares for some of the most neglected cases the charity deals with.

Kelly had wanted to work with animals since she was young and mum Linda, from Sampford Peverell, said the unusual guests made the day.

"It was a wonderful day and the donkeys looked wonderful," she said.

"Kelly asked the sanctuary if she could borrow them and they were only too happy to oblige.

"The donkeys were dressed up to look the part and drew quite large crowds."

The wedding took place in Bampton Parish Church where Kelly's grandfather, Ken Aldridge, is buried.

Kelly said: "I could tell that the donkeys were having a lovely time and they were extremely well behaved.

"I have worked at the sanctuary for nine years now and they mean the world to me.

"It is an incredible place to work and I feel so lucky to be a part of it."

The day was marked with sadness for Antony, who served with 6 Rifles, the Territorial Army regiment based at Wyvern Barracks, Exeter.

He was close friends with Mark Marshall, the 29-year-old Rifleman and Exeter Community Support Officer killed in Afghanistan earlier this year.

Antony should have gone on the tour, but a leg injury forced him to take a medical discharge last year.

"His death absolutely tore me apart," he said.