Daisy, an 18-month old yearling, went missing from Netherby Fields in the village where she is stabled with the other beach donkeys owned by Geraldine Gibson.

Mrs Gibson frantically searched the fields where the donkeys graze and Daisy was nowhere to be found. She had almost given up hope of finding her alive.

But three days later Mrs Gibson found Daisy, who was bought from Seamer Horse Fair last year, collapsed under a tree near a railway line bleeding from a deep cut in one of her hind legs which has gone right down to the bone.

The donkey can now only walk on her knuckle rather than the flat of her foot and is frightened of everybody.

She believes Daisy, who is worth £1,000 and went missing three weeks ago, last Sunday was the target of thieves who attempted to bundle her into a Transit van on a track near the railway.

Mrs Gibson, who kept beach ponies for 40 years, believes it is impossible the donkey could have escaped from the field and has checked every inch of the fence and said it is too high for her to get over.

“She must have had a terrible fright,” she said. “She’s got a really nasty deep injury to her back leg, it’s down to the bone.

“When I left Saturday night and went to bed she was okay and on Sunday morning she was gone. I searched everywhere.

“It’s strange and it’s frightening.

“I didn’t find her for nearly three days, I was convinced she had gone.

“Somebody walking their dogs shouted to me on the Wednesday and there she was lying under a tree down the field and she didn’t look well at all.

“When we first got her back she was like a wild thing running into the corner of her stable.”

Mrs Gibson says she thinks whoever is responsible hid her down on the railway line.

“It’s unusual for a young donkey to leave its mother and there is nothing in the field to cut her,” she said.

“I don’t think a donkey would jump so high. I think she has been thrown over across the length of the fence.

“Her injury could have been done when they tried to load her into the van and got her leg caught.

“I haven’t been to the police yet but I am going to report it.

“It’s a big worry when I’m working. I’m out all day and I don’t know what’s going on round here.”

Insp Dave Barf of Whitby Police said: “I would like to thank the Whitby Gazette for bringing this incident to my attention.

“I will be asking PC Graham Addy, the dedicated officer for Sleights, to visit Geraldine when he is next in the area.

“It’s obviously an upsetting occurrence for Geraldine. Any cruelty to animals is to be abhorred.”

It is expected Daisy will eventually make a full recovery but it is likely she will have to have an operation on her leg.

Anyone who may have seen anything suspicious is asked to call Whitby Police on (0845) 6060247.