Sidmouth Bowls Club has received a mini mascot as a stand in for its ‘lucky’ wicker donkey to end their outdoor season.

Members picked up a smaller wicker version from the Donkey Sanctuary on Wednesday but not in time to prevent it’s over 60s A-team from being relegated.

As reported in the Herald last week, the club had been searching for the life-size wicker donkey since June as its disappearance tied in with a dip in form for the A-team.

Club member Burt Hague put up a tongue-and-cheek poster searching for the missing figure. The donkey was found to have gone on holiday back to the Donkey Sanctuary,

The charity, which owns the figure, offered the club a mini-mascot in place of the donkey to support them through the rest of its season.

John Mason, outdoor men’s captain, said: “The Donkey Sanctuary offered to give us a mascot in lieu of the donkey, so we have now put it pride of place in the clubhouse.

“We lost last week which then relegated us. The donkey has come a little too late for this year.”