Loppy the donkey was literally all ears when she had her first taste of TV stardom.

The five-year-old animal is the proud possessor of ears measuring a massive 17in. They are thought to be the longest on any female donkey in Britain.

She showed them off to great effect on Channel Four's Pet Rescuers programme last night (NOTE-Thu Aug 6).

Loppy, who lives at Island Farm Riding Centre and Donkey Rescue in Brightwell-cum-Sotwell, near Wallingford, was saved from slaughter when a friend of John McLaren (correct), one of the centre's directors, bought her at a market in London two years ago.

John then paid £500 for her and has been looking after Loppy ever since.

John said: "She has a perfect temperament. She wouldn't hurt anyone for all the tea in China.

"She's like a big baby.

"She won't come out of her stable in the morning until we brush her. She's a big soft fool."

Loppy is regularly taken around shows all over the country and John says swarms of people gather round her wherever she goes.

"She likes nothing better than having lots of people around her when she's at shows," he added.

Loppy is the latest in a long line of animals at Island Farm which have been on TV.

Bunny the pony was filmed for BBC1's Whatever You Want in March alongside three singing nuns who were challenged to come up with all the lyrics to the song My Favourite Things.

Four ponies had previously appeared in the BBC's children's serial The Phoenix and the Carpet.

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