Shoppers couldn't believe their eyes when they spotted a pony being led down the aisles of Lidl in Ashford.

Browsing the New Street store yesterday, the owner appeared to be blind and the pony was wearing a fluorescent jacket, usually donned by guide dogs.

The pair wandered along the aisles around 3pm yesterday before being thrown out by security staff.

But one shopper, who wished to remain anonymous, said the incident looked to be little more than a prank as the man leading the animal loudly announced "oh no, I've done it again, this isn't the vets".

He said: "We couldn't believe it. He walked right in with this pony, right down to the bakery department and you could just hear 'clip-clip'.

"Everyone was just staring at him, I still don't know what it was about but the security guards led him out the building quite quickly and then I don't know what happened next.

"When they came over he said in a thick Irish accent 'oh is my dog not allowed in here then?'."

"It was quite funny but I don't think the security people found it very funny.

"I suppose it's only got to mess on the floor, and what with all the rain we've been having it was really dirty - although it was quite well behaved.

"It's certainly very unusual to see a pony walking down the aisle!"

The Lidl store has been contacted for a comment.