ALL Saints Church in Okehampton will be celebrating Palm Sunday this year in the company a new four legged friend, after the sad death of Pickles, the much loved donkey who has made the trip from Town Barton Farm in Tedburn St Mary to Okehampton for the last seven years.

Rector of Okehampton, the Rev Stephen Cook, said: 'We were sorry to hear about Pickles, he had achieved almost rock star status here.

'Each year I expected to see him come out of his horse box wearing sunglasses with a glamorous girl on his shoulder.

'He wasn't able to come last year because he had a chest infection, but we all hoped he would be back.'

Pickles was a great favourite with the children, some of who had become so fond of him, they made the trip to his home at the sanctuary to see him during the year.

Mr Cook said: 'We have built quite a strong relationship with the donkey sanctuary because of Pickles.

'The children loved him and they were sad when they learned of his death last year.

'The sanctuary have been so accommodating and helpful over the years.

'We always have a collection at the back of the church for them and we are very grateful for the effort they put in bringing Pickles to us and we look forward to welcoming the donkey.'

Pickles had been at the farm for more than ten years and died in May 2007 aged 21.

Farm manager Paul Carter said: 'Pickles was a lovely character.

'He was kind and gentle and loved going to all the fetes to meet people and get groomed.

'He loved being out and about, he was like a cuddly teddy bear.

'I speak on behalf of everyone at the farm when I say we were all very sad to see him go.'

Last year All Saints Church welcomed 26-year-old Phillip W, a new donkey to its Palm Sunday celebrations.

Mr Carter added: 'Phillip has been with us for 20 years and is also a big character. We know he is more than capable of taking on the role for the service in Okehampton and he is looking forward to meeting all the children.'

The event, which commemorates Jesus' journey into Jerusalem on the back of a donkey, will begin with a procession from the main gates of Okehampton Primary School on Sunday April 5 at 10.30am, for a service in the church at 11am.

Everyone is welcome to attend the celebrations where palm branches are carried to form a guard of honour on arrival, and placed on the ground for the donkey to walk over.