A MAJOR operation to salvage Palm Sunday services at a pair of Suffolk churches is currently being mounted after hungry donkeys tucked into freshly folded palm crosses.

Laurence Cawley

A MAJOR operation to salvage Palm Sunday services at a pair of Suffolk churches is currently being mounted after hungry donkeys tucked into freshly folded palm crosses.

Father Peter MacLeod-Miller, of the Barrow Rectory, has this morning been out collecting reeds which he plans to deliver to a team of volunteers later today to try and make sure he has enough crosses for tomorrow's services.

He told how his previous stockpile of palm branches, which had been folded and put away in cane baskets, were munched up by the rectory's donkeys.

The donkeys were then joined by the rectory's sheep.

It was discovered after the incident that one of the donkeys is currently pregnant, and Mr MacLeod-Miller has been left wondering whether the entire incident might be the result of one of his donkeys eating for two.

Mr MacLeod-Miller said: “Animals do things like this and we've all heard of them doing these types of things - I once had a cat which took a chicken from the table when I had the bishop coming for lunch.

“They seem to have a way of making you jump.

“I've been down to Saxham Hall and I am going to go around to a few people's placed to give them reeds to start folding.

“The donkeys are great leaders, very cute and it's great when they are on your side, but they can be difficult to negotiate with when they get an idea into their heads and can really be quite naughty.

“If I tried the stunts the donkeys get away with I'd be hit by the church wardens with their wands, as it is they get a tickle under their chin and a carrot.”

The donkeys will be taking part in the Palm Sunday processions tomorrow at Barrow at 10.45am and at a family service at St Giles church in Risby at 3pm.