A mum whose riding career was cut short by weight issues is making do with the next best thing - taking horses for walks on her mobility scooter.

Elizabeth Curran, 59, of Peel Hall, Wythenshawe, and her miniature horses Tinkerbell and Jezabell are a popular sight trotting along the roads in her neighbourhood.

After competing for many years as a long distance rider, Elizabeth’s health and weight issues scuppered her hobby.

But she has found a new way to spend time with her beloved horses - albeit on a smaller scale.

She said: “You might think it’s unusual for a woman with a mobility scooter to walk a horse.

“But as you can see Tinkerbell is only tiny and I can’t ride her.

“I used to be able to ride but I can’t now. Tinkerbell and Jezabell like to go out and meet people so I thought well, hey ho, my scooter can be my legs.

And for the people of Wythenshawe, mum of two Elizabeth is a welcome sight.

She added: “Everybody knows me in Wythenshawe, people stop their cars and come running back and say ‘what a lovely sight, you’ve really cheered me up and can I take a photograph?’

“People slow down, they all have a look as they go past, It’s nice to see people slow down - people are so busy these days trying to get from A to B but they have to stop and have a look which is quite natural because they so beautiful.”

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Elizabeth often takes Tinkerbell, eight, and Jezabell, 12, to care homes and charities and they are also at home on a stage, especially in nativities where they double as donkeys.

And with her pets trotting by her side, Elizabeth is approached by passers-by keen to have chat.

Hairdresser Christine Williams, who runs the Reflections salon said: “We see her out walking them all the time, it’s a lovely sight.

“It’s particularly good at Christmas when she dresses them up as reindeer.”

Grandfather of four Alan Millington, 62, said: “I remember Liz moving in and thinking ‘oh my God horses in Wythenshawe, that can’t be right’,

“But it really works, they are lovely, she’s famous now, all the kids come to see the horses and she does lovely stuff for charities and it’s a real pleasure.”

Elizabeth, who is married to Clifford and also has five dogs, added: “My animals give me a reason to get out of bed in the morning.”

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