It is not every day a herd of donkeys ends up in Wolves colours, but that is what has happened just over the border in Staffordshire.

Donkeys at Donkey E.A.R.S, a community interest company in Wheaton Aston, have been wearing branded Wolves socks in the club’s old gold after a donation from the Wolves Foundation.

The socks are being used to protect the animals from flies.

Director Jo Wightman said she got a call from the foundation offering spare socks, sized six to eight, after hearing they could help the donkeys.

“Donkeys get really bothered in summer months by gnawing flies on their legs, so they need them covered,” she said.

“It’s difficult to get an animal to keep things on, so sport socks are ideal because they stay up.

She said the donation was helping keep vet bills down, as the charity often has to pay for treatment for infected fly bites.

“They look cool and are supporting the local team,” Wightman said.

“I didn’t realise the foundation work with a lot of the same clientele that we do… it’s a nice connection.

“They [the socks] wash well and they have given me a whole box, so we’ve got spares.”

Donkey E.A.R.S aims to improve people’s wellbeing through donkey assisted activities.

It works with people with special educational needs and disabilities, those with dementia, social prescribers and care homes.

The Wolves Foundation works in the community on health and wellbeing, community and disability sport, schools and youth engagement.

“The donkeys were very grateful,” said Wightman.

“I did try and get them to play a bit of football, but they weren’t interested.”

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