Ninety-eight-year-old Eva Flintham couldn’t wait to give cute ponies HoneyBee and Thimble a polo mint treat when she was reunited with them inside her Brampton care home.

The last time Eva saw the adorable ponies was last year when they trotted into her room at Montague House Care Home – a treasured memory captured in a photograph which hangs on the bedroom wall.

Eva said: “This time, I had the mints ready, which HoneyBee particularly loves.

“It’s wonderful seeing the ponies again - thank you so much.”

Fellow resident Brian Macey could not believe his eyes when he saw the two adorable ponies walk into his Keeling Lane care home to help celebrate his birthday.

Brian has just turned 87 and was delighted to see Thimble and HoneyBee from London & Cambridge Pony Parties.

He said: “Wow! They are amazing and beautiful.”

Fellow resident Robert Ward, aged 84, said: “This is just enchanting. How wonderful.”

Whilst Shetland pony Thimble captivated residents on the ground floors, HoneyBee, a Dartmoor cross Shetland pony, was confident enough to use the lift and visit residents on the first and second floors.

Montague wellbeing coach Amy Milburn said: “HoneyBee is a rescue pony who was found abandoned on the side of the road 15 years ago.

“She is now nearly 20 and living the best life in Saffron Waldon with many other pony friends.

“The ponies love going around schools, hospitals and care homes as therapy animals.

“We learned that ponies can hear a human’s heartbeat from four metres away and can also regulate their heartbeat to that of a human close by.

“This means that when they visit someone who is poorly, they can relax with them and provide a calming atmosphere.

“All of the residents absolutely loved seeing the ponies and couldn’t believe their eyes when the animals walked into their room!”