DONKEYS delighted festive crowds at Malvern's Christmas Farmer's Market on Saturday.

Malvern’s favourite donkeys, Bluebell and Daisy and the donkey procession team returned to their roots for this year’s Christmas Charity Carols and WW1 Christmas Eve 1917 Commemoration event.

New for this year was the idea that pets were invited to receive a Christmas blessing.

The Priory Gatehouse and Malvern Museum once again provided the backdrop to the pets blessing.

Grace Guidicotti-Poplawska led the traditional St Lucy’s Procession in her garlanded crown of candles through the market followed by Thomas Coombes and the team carrying their star topped poles.

Reverend Val Needham, conducted the procession, singing a number of popular Christmas songs and carols including Go Tell It On The Mountain, Behold That Star, Good King Wenceslas, The Twelve Days of Christmas, Jingle Bells and Little Donkey.

The procession concluded with a rendition of We Wish You a Merry Christmas.

The songs were accompanied by bells, lightsticks and sheep masks and fun actions for local children to join in.

The procession also saw a charity collection for Penny Ha'Penny Horse and Pony Rescue Centre.

Two years ago, people shared their poignant moments by stepping up to share stories of loved ones lost in previous conflicts.

On that occassion, petty officer Mike Jackson of Maritime Cadets Association stepped forward to play the Last Post followed by The Rouse after the minute’s silence.

He returned as bugler gain for the WW1 Christmas Eve 1917 Commemoration section.

This year 39 local men from Barnards Green who fell in those mud-ridden, rat infested trenches were remembered and the story of the great-grandfather of one of the team members, a private in the 4th Battalion of the Worcestershire Regiment, who fell at the Somme was recalled.

Visitors also heard that in the First World War, over 16 million horses, donkeys, dogs, carrier pigeons and even camels each played a huge role with over nine million of them giving their lives in battle.