A Crockham Hill family has raised more than £700 for Kent, Surrey & Sussex Air Ambulance by delivering Christmas cards with their pet donkey.

The Greenaway family and award-winning Harry the donkey posted 1,312 season’s greetings around the village at the weekend in return for donations to the life-saving charity.

Villagers were urged to drop off their cards at The Royal Oak pub where a team of Santa’s helpers spent five hours sorting and stamping the mail.

Organiser Mark Armitage said: “Each card was stamped with a donkey logo so recipients knew their cards had been delivered by ‘Donkey Post’.

“Harry was adorned in Christmas attire and set off at a steady plod to make the deliveries. We had tremendous support from the residents of Crockham Hill and from well-wishers on our travels.

“We are very grateful to everyone who made donations and to Paul and Dawn at The Royal Oak for their support too. We couldn’t do it without them all.”

In total, the annual fundraising event raised £1,466 for the Air Ambulance, which relies almost entirely on donations, and Hospice in the Weald.

Harry has just completed his fifth year under The Active Donkey Award organised by the Donkey Breeds Society.

Donkeys need to complete eight different activities during the year to raise the profile of the animal among the public. About 65 donkeys take part each year and Harry won this year’s Active Donkey Cup.

For more info visit www.kssairambulance.org.uk