Two donkeys showed the way at a church’s Palm Sunday procession before being blessed by the priest-in-charge.

Mother donkey Elizabeth, 8, arrived with son Valentine, 2, in a horse box driven from Willow Farm in Little Heath – both with Palm Sunday crosses on their bridles.

In the past, the animals have walked the mile between St Peter’s Church, in Aldborough Hatch, Newbury Park, and the farm as part of the church’s celebrations of the religious day.

Rev Kate Lovesey, the priest-in-charge, said: “The Palm Sunday procession bring to the fore the events of the day 2,000 years ago when Jesus entered Jerusalem riding on a donkey with the crowds cheering.

“A week later that same crowd had turned on him and cried out for him to be crucified.

“On Easter Sunday Christians throughout the world will celebrate the resurrection of Jesus, our Lord and Saviour.”

Past Palm Sunday processions at the church have usually been attended by just one donkey.

The animals are provided by Clive and Ann Wilderspin at Willow Farm.