Holidaymakers found room at the inn for a dying mule - who then gave birth to a surprise real life 'little donkey' in a festive miracle.

Sue Toach, 52, was due to fly out to Boa Vista, Cape Verde, when she spotted a post on their hotel Facebook page about a dying donkey found stranded on the beach.

Animal lover Sue and her husband, Andy, 54, purchased some supplies to take in a bid to save the skeletal and sick donkey - named Bella-Riu - from death.

On arrival, Sue, a community safety educator, and Andy, a service engineer, teamed up with other hotel guests and local tour guides to get a vet out to get Bella treatment.

They then managed to find a home for her at a local riding centre and, just days later, Bella gave birth - in the stable - when nobody had even known she was pregnant.

Now fast-recovering Bella and her surprise son - their very own 'little donkey' - named 'Spaghetti', live happily in their new home.

Sue from Hinckley, Leicestershire, said: "When Bella was found, she was very skinny, her hips and ribs were visible, her coat was matted and she was covered in parasites."

"She just appeared on the beach one day - she looked so sad, her head was hanging low, and her eyes were glazed over."

"When I got there I was grooming her twice a day, and would sit and talk to her after I gave her twice-daily medicine."

"I was thrilled when local horse owner Sidnei Nunes, 35, came forward offering to take her in."

"I had suspected she was pregnant but the vets said it was hard to tell - I started crying when I found out she had given birth."

"I left before I got to meet Spaghetti, but we've promised to go back - we want Bella and Spaghetti to have a fantastic life there."

Sue checked out her hotel, Hotel Riu Boa Vista, on Facebook days before she and Andy were due to fly out, and learned guests had found Bella.

She gathered supplies - including a grooming kit, fly repellant, treats and a bucket - and rushed to Bella on the beach as soon as they arrived on November 21.

By then, fellow hotel guests, Paula Thomas and Julie Carp, had began gently cleaning her with towels and toothbrushes and gaining her trust.

Sue began going to the beach, where Bella was staying, morning and night to give her antibiotics.

Sue suspected she might be pregnant but vets weren't able to bring her in to be scanned, so nobody knew for sure.

Sue, Paula, Julie and another hotel guest, Luing Andrews, enlisted the help of local tour guides in a bid to find Bella a loving home and an owner to take care of her.

Sue said: "The local tour guides came back to us the next day and said they had found a man, Sidnei, who could take Bella."

"I said 'I won't let her go anywhere unless I go too to be sure it's OK for her' - and it turned out to be great."

Days later Bella was getting settled in her new home in Sidnei's stables, and even made friends with one of his horses - who had been a fellow rescue.

Sue and Andy were due to go fly home when she got a call from Lindsay - Bella had given birth overnight.

Sue said: "When I got the call I thought something must be wrong - I was worried she had died."

"When I learned she gave birth, I started crying with joy."

It came as a shock to the group, who had been unsure whether she was pregnant or whether the baby would live because of her illnesses.

Against the odds, Bella and baby Spaghetti are now both doing well, and the four holidaymakers, plus the two tour guides Gil and Lindsay, who clubbed together to care for her are continuing to help her by fundraising.

And Sue has vowed to return next year so she can see Bella again and meet Spaghetti for the first time.

Sue said: "I looked Bella in the eyes as I said goodbye and promised I would come back and see her - and I mean it."

"Now we're hoping to raise money to help Sidnei with their care and veterinary bills, so we can still help from back at home."

"Sidnei said he might be able to take more rescues on too, so we're hoping the money can go towards that as well."

To donate, visit: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-for-riu-bella-her-foal