They’ve only got one working eye between them but these two pals are inseparable, with one acting as a guide for the other.

Ponies Bubbles and Peanut are constant companions and are now both retired and live happily in a field, eating, grazing and keeping each other safe.

Peanut has become a carer to blind pony Bubbles, who are both being looked after by volunteers at the Anim-Mates Animal Sanctuary based in St Mary Hoo.

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Peanut, who is 19, joined the charity’s Care for Life scheme six years ago and his best friend, Bubbles, is owned by Pauline Thompson, who is a volunteer at the animal rescue centre.

The pair have been sharing the same field for two years and during that time, 23-year-old Bubbles’ poor eyesight has deteriorated and he is now totally blind.

“They enjoy living here. It’s as good as it gets for them and I’ve got to thank Teresa for allowing Peanut to live with Bubbles, he would have been very lonely otherwise” - Pauline Thompson

Mrs Thompson, who has owned him since he was three, said: “He could see when they first got together in the field but we noticed there was someone wrong with his eye and we called the vet in and he told us he had a cataract in one and he was blind in it.

“Later I noticed Bubbles was holding his head to the side a lot and we called the vet back and sadly he told us he now had cataracts in both eyes so was totally blind.”

Bubbles has lived all his life on the Hoo Peninsula and he is a Welsh mountain pony.

In his lifetime he has taught children to ride, took part in parades and has won rosettes at shows.

Mrs Thompson added: “He likes living with Peanut and knows exactly where he is.

“The villagers know he is blind and don’t let their dogs too near to him and respect the fact he can’t see.

“He retired when he was 16 and even though he can’t see the blacksmith when he comes to do his feet, he copes with it well.

“We just talk to him a lot so he knows we are here and everything in their field is left exactly how it is, it’s never changed so he doesn’t get confused.”

Video: Ponies Bubbles and Peanut are best friends

His partner, Peanut only has one eye and lost the other in an accident with a hawthorn bush and both love eating polos, apples, carrots and blackberries.

Peanut is owned by Teresa Bloomfield who runs the animal sanctuary and he would have been put down a long time ago if she had not taken him in.

His previous elderly owner, who had loved and cared for him until he was 13, couldn’t cope with him any longer and the woman’s family took Peanut to a vet to be put to sleep but the vet asked Teresa to take him.

The ponies also eat garlic regularly as it is believed to help keep flies away from them.

Mrs Thompson added: “Bubbles senses where Peanut is and they get on well and he has given Bubbles the confidence he needs.

“Peanut is the dominant one, though. and will kick Bubbles if he’s in his way.

“They enjoy living here. It’s as good as it gets for them and I’ve got to thank Teresa for allowing Peanut to live with Bubbles, he would have been very lonely otherwise.”

Anim-Mates is an animal rescue group which rescues cats, dogs, rabbits and guinea pigs.

All the animals in its care are in the homes of fosterers who treat them as their own pets until they can be re-homed. Some animals remain at the sanctuary for life and it is run entirely by volunteers and relies on donations.

If you would like to make a donation, visit www.anim-mates.org.uk or text a donation (up to £10) Text ANIM24 £ to 70070, you can also find Anim-Mates on Facebook