What's the link between Ann Widdecombe and donkeys? Well, you could be guessing for a long time.

It's a little known fact that the former government minister Ann Widdecombe is the patron of a group called 'Safe Haven for Donkeys in the Holy Land', who are making a big difference for...well...donkeys!

The group was set up in 2000 by Lucy Fensom and her husband Adi Zahor who are based in Moshav in Israel. It's the only Donkey sanctuary in the country and provides help for the animals and their owners.

Carolyn Trevivian and Lucy Fensom with baby son, Robert during the recent visit to the sanctuary.

Donkeys still play a crucial working role in Arab Israeli and Palestinian villages. Without them, families would not be able to carry out their daily lives, such as taking their produce to market or bringing in crops in from the fields.

However, poverty combined with poor education means that these families are often unable to provide their donkeys with even the most basic veterinary care or equine equipment. They do not always realise the importance of providing proper stabling or shaded rest areas for their donkeys, which leads, in many cases, to neglect and suffering.

Charity Trustee and Cornishwoman, Carolyn Trevivian conatcted MP Ann Widdecombe, who is known for her animal charity work, and asked her if she'd be the charity's patron.

Ann Widdecombe was so impressed with their work that not only did she take up their offer, but she decided to accompany Carolyn Trevivian out to Israel to see exactly what they do...

"I told Carolyn and Lucy that I would be delighted to be patron of Safe Haven for Donkeys in the Holy Land because I have always loved donkeys and they are, of course, featured heavily in the Bible."

"The sanctuary is superb, Lucy is doing a fantastic job - not only for her work in the field and her educational visits to school children but also for providing a home for rescued, badly injured donkeys. Her initiative is to be much admired - the sanctuary is full of happy donkeys."

Carolyn and Miss Widdecombe joined Lucy on a visit to two Arab Israeli villages, accompanied by vet Dr Adnan Abu Raff, to intercept donkeys with loaded carts on their way to local markets, in order to carry out on the spot treatments - such as worming and hoof checks.

Carolyn grooms one of the sanctuary's four legged residents, helped by visiting Arab Israeli schoolboy .

On the final morning of the visit, a mixed group of Arab Israeli and Israeli schoolchildren visited the sanctuary, to work together with Carolyn and Miss Widdecombe on grooming some of the sanctuary's 69 rescued donkeys and to chat about basic animal care.

Cornishwoman Carolyn Trevivian says she's very impressed with the 'Safe Haven for Donkeys in the Holy Land' charity:

"I first became involved with the sanctuary when I saw an article about Lucy. I was so impressed by what she was doing - and at that point she was completely on her own."

"We all feel that we want to do something that makes a difference but Lucy is out there actually doing it - in a country that it not her own and often working in very difficult circumstances. Lucy encapsulates 'the power of one' for me."