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'Owning Blackpool donkeys is my dream job'

Lynette HorsburghNorth West
BBC Mark poses on Blackpool beach with a white donkey named Alfie. Mark is bald and is smiling at the camera wearing a black company-branded jumper with a red polo shirt underneath. The pier and Big Wheel can be seen beyond the sand and sea in the backgroundBBC
Mark has been operating donkey rides on Blackpool beach for more than 30 years

A man who operates donkey rides on Blackpool beach said he has had a love for the animals since he came to the resort on holiday at the age of six.

Mark Ineson, owner of The Real Donkeys, has just started his 31st season offering rides on Blackpool's Golden Mile and the beach.

He said it had always been his "dream job" as donkeys are so caring and all have their unique character although there are downsides - including the Blackpool weather and endless paperwork.

The traditional donkey rides have now returned to the resort for season, usually between April and October.

The Real Donkeys Beauty a black donkey shows her teeth on Blackpool beach on a sunny day. Blackpool's Central pier is seen in the background. The Real Donkeys
Traditional donkeys rides on Blackpool's Golden Mile and the beach have returned

Ineson, who is originally from Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, said he would to spend all his childhood holidays at the resort helping donkey operators "apart from a Friday when I would go to the Pleasure Beach because it was the donkeys' day off".

He said his parents would be forced to pull up deckchairs and sit on the beach for hours while he helped Martin and Norman Patchett, who ran some of the donkey rides in his youth.

The Real Donkeys A black donkey and two grey donkeys with red blankets underneath their saddles and yellow harnesses. They are on Blackpool beach with Central Pier in the background.The Real Donkeys
Mark Ineson owns 21 donkeys and says they all have unique characters

He said: "I loved everything about donkeys.

"They're so caring and if you have a bad day a cuddle from them makes it all better."

The 48-year-old added he even likes the smell of their leather harnesses.

The family came twice a year to the resort until Ineson was 18, when he found out there was a pitch and some donkeys up for sale.

Mark, wearing a black jumper and red polo shirt underneath, turns towards a brown donkey that is resting its head on his shoulder. They are on Blackpool beach with the pier and Big Wheel visible in the background beyond the sand and sea.
Mark says he had always loved helping out with the donkeys on Blackpool beach since holidaying there when he was six

He ended up taking the plunge and has never looked back.

"I still love it," he said.

Sadly, Ineson said the custom of donkey rides is waning since he started out, with the Real Donkeys one of three licensed donkey operators on Blackpool beach which has dropped from 18 since he has been in business.

The Real Donkeys A grey donkey called Trooper with its name engraved on a yellow harness is on Blackpool beach with Blackpool Tower in the background. The Real Donkeys
There is a donkey charter licensed donkey operators must adhere to in the Blackpool area

As the season starts in earnest, his donkeys have recently returned from their annual three month holidays where they "chill out" in pairs at farms across the country, before some were recently involved in Palm Sunday services at local churches.

Some of his donkeys have even been involved in weddings which Ineson said was "surreal".

The Real Donkeys A bride in her wedding dress with her blond curly hair pinned up in a tiara kisses Sony the donkey.The Real Donkeys
Mark Ineson says his donkeys have even been involved in weddings

The licensed donkey operator said one of the highlights of his job was seeing the smile the donkeys brought to kids faces.

Blackpool Council has a donkey charter that licensed donkey operators must adhere to which limits the number of hours donkeys can work.

Donkeys must not work on Fridays and those over the age of 16, or who weight more than 8st (51kg) are not permitted to ride.

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