It’s recommended that animals should carry no more than 20 per cent of their own body weight.

The obese and overweight tourists, combined with the lack of shade and water as well as the sheer heat and 568 cobbled steps, is what is causing such a problem.

There should be a weight restriction. With donkeys it is should be no more than 50kg, but how would that be imposed and who would be there to make sure that happened?

Now they’re having to resort to using cross-bred mules, because the donkeys just aren’t strong enough.