WEYMOUTH’S beach donkeys are proving to be as popular as ever despite new figures claiming the traditional seaside pastime is dying out.

Donkey owner Maggie Aldridge said her beach concession was always busy, especially during school holidays and in good weather.

But a survey published this week shows a decline in donkey rides, fish and chips on the prom, and Kiss Me Quick hats as families desert the British seaside.

The survey claims 92 per cent of children have never ridden a donkey at the seaside, and that British beaches are being overlooked in favour of visiting those in Spain, France and America.

Maggie, 61, has run the concession since 2005 and has won regional and national prizes for her happy and healthy herd.

She said: “The rides are as popular as ever. “It obviously depends on the weather – last year wasn’t so good because of the bad weather. We almost always have a full ride going out and in the summer we have full queues going down the beach.

“I think the main attraction is that kiddies just love animals and like to take photos with them.

“We always unload them in the mornings and groom them on the beach and we get loads of people watching. They love to see it all.”

It is in contrast to the donkey ride trade in Blackpool where owners say they are fearful for the future of their businesses because of falling trade.

But as Maggie points out, she has the benefit of a monopoly on the beach at Weymouth.

“Up in Blackpool they have got so many groups they must be fighting for business,” she said. “We are on our own here, so we don’t have any competition.”

Although her donkeys are kept busy, Maggie understands the struggles and admits it is getting harder to make a living because of the increasing overheads. She spends at least £20,000 per year on such items as vet bills, licences, and insurance.

“I am in the red most of the time,” said Maggie. “There are times when I think ‘how am I going to cope?’ But how many of us are comfortable these days? I don’t do it to make money. If I didn’t enjoy it, I wouldn’t do it.”