A woman on Lewis in the Outer Hebrides is keeping a pony in her house because she says there is nowhere suitable on the island where it can be stabled over the winter.

Stephanie Noble, 65, moved 3 year old Grey Lady Too into
the lounge of her semi-detached home on Christmas Eve.

To make the pony comfortable Ms Noble has laid a bed of straw over a covering of 60 litres of cat litter and four heavy duty blankets and has turned her chairs into feeding troughs. Water is fetched from the kitchen in the next room.

The local council said she could do what she wished at her home, but would not encourage taking in a pony and the Scottish SPCA said it had offered to take care of her pony.

Ms Noble said: "This is my own property - if I want to even keep an elephant in the house I can. I have had nothing but stick from people because it is unconventional. It is not normal to keep birds in a cage - because they should be flying about - but people don't complain about that. Grey Lady Too is very happy. She goes out to the lawn - though she has eaten a couple of the neighbour's plants - and comes back in the house herself."

Ms Noble added: "The pony is very happy in the lounge and the Scottish SPCA have checked her and say she is good health. The situation is not ideal, but it is safe and secure for her."

Grey Lady Too is valued at £1,850 and is not yet broken-in.