At least 15 boys, aged seven to 15, have contracted rabies after gang-raping a donkey in Morocco.

The teens spent a week at the Mechraa Belksiri Hospital in the rural town of Sidi Al Kamel receiving treatment and a rabies vaccination after contracting the disease.

However, it is feared that the number of children infected with the disease is much higher with families taking their young children for tests in hospitals.

Police are appealing to anyone who “approached” or “admired” the donkey to come forward in order to be tested for the disease and seek treatment.

The donkey has since been put down.