The Big Freeze: Animals escape as roof gives way

FOUR Shetland ponies and a donkey were trapped inside a barn after the roof gave way under the weight of a heavy snowfall.

The animals, at the Willows Animal Sanctuary, in Strichen, Aberdeenshire, escaped serious injury after the roof collapsed on Saturday night.

"How they managed not to be hit by the roof is just incredible," said trustee Kate Robinson.

She added that meeting the cost of the repair would be a financial battle for the sanctuary which cares for 300 animals. "We are struggling to have enough money for our winter feed and this is another fantastic cost that we did not expect," she said.