The Donkey Sanctuary based in Sidmouth is launching an international campaign today after it rescued five abandoned donkeys in Romania that had been poisoned by a farmer.

The five donkeys had been poisoned using corn laced with a deadly insecticide because the donkeys were eating the farmer's crops.

Paul Svendsen, Director of European Operations for The Donkey Sanctuary says: "Luckily we were in the area looking at donkey problems; we saw this group of donkeys standing in an open field and went to have a look. When we got there we found corn on the ground with a red powder on it which we identified as a very strong insecticide. We were just in time to give these donkeys the life saving treatment that they needed."

The Donkey Sanctuary is working closely with a local animal welfare organisation called 'Save the Dogs and Other Animals' who are currently caring for the five donkeys until they are fit to travel to the Sanctuary’s rescue centre in Italy.