MOLLY the donkey must have thought she had gone to donkey heaven - as a team of firefighters massaged her back and fed her carrots.

But for the worried crew, it was a race against time to save the animal's life. The donkey was spotted yesterday morning, lying in a Tintern field, shivering, distressed, exhausted and unable to stand.

She had slipped on ice 15 hours earlier, and spent the night unable to move in freezing temperatures.

Molly's owners are on holiday, but Pam Smith, of Raglan Road, Tintern, and her daughter, Becky, are looking after her.

Pam said: "Becky was on the school bus when she saw Molly lying over in the field with all four legs sticking out. She knew something was wrong and phoned me." Pam and her husband rushed to the frozen field by the River Wye, but were unable to raise Molly.

They feared she had broken her legs and, unable to summon any vets or the RSPCA, they called the fire brigade around 10.45am and a crew from Caldicot responded. Firemen dragged the "quite elderly" donkey onto a sheet for warmth, where she was covered in a blanket and massaged to get her circulation going.

Neighbours joined in the rescue operation, and some of her fieldmates watched over a fence.

Pam said: "I don't know why she wandered onto the icy patch. She has been in this field for years."

At 1pm vet Glenn Marlow arrived and checked Molly over, then marshalled the firemen and bystanders to roll the downed donkey onto her stomach.

A second attempt got Molly upright - and after a few wobbles she was able to head for her stable and a reunion with male friend Olly.

Glenn said: "She could have died if she'd been out stuck on the ground another night. Her hooves would have had trouble on the ice.

"But she looks fine and just has a few bruises. She should stay indoors for a few days. Donkeys like to have company, so it's best if Olly stays with her."

For Molly's firefighter rescuers it was all in a day's work - in the past they have rescued a cow from a swimming-pool and a cow with its leg caught in a car's spare wheel.