The Donkey Sanctuary has appointed two new executive directors.

Niall Duffy joins the organisation as Executive Director of Policy and Profile, and Cheryl Martin has been appointed Executive Director of People and Planning.

It comes as the animal welfare charity, which is based near Sidmouth, recently gave itself a new goal to improve the lives of five million donkeys over five years.

Marianne Steele, CEO of The Donkey Sanctuary, said: "The charity has set itself a huge task... and essential to this is a leadership team with the skills, experience and passion for animal welfare to make it happen. That's why I am so delighted to have Niall and Cheryl in their new key roles.

"Their appointments will help put The Donkey Sanctuary in an even stronger position to fulfil our goals, as we deliver on our vision of a world where every donkey has a good quality of life."

Duffy has previously worked at the RSPCA, the Independent Press Standards Organisation, Nestlé UK, Qatar Airways and in local government.

He has previously served as chair of Safe Haven for Donkeys, a charity that works with donkeys and their owners in Israel and Palestine.

Martin joined The Donkey Sanctuary in 2019 as Director of Brand and Communications and has an "extensive" background in marketing communications.