Eight donkeys have been jailed for four days in India after eating thousands of pounds worth of plants outside a prison.

The donkeys were arrested in the Jalaun district of the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.

The prison’s head officer R.K. Mishra told Indian media, “These donkeys had destroyed some very expensive plants which our senior officer had arranged for planting inside jail.

“Despite warnings the owner let loose his animals so we detained the donkeys.”

Urai jail superintendent Sita Ram Sharma told the Times of India, “There is no such law wherein we can arrest donkeys.

“They were confined for four days to teach their owner a lesson.

“We let go of the animals after Kamlesh (the owner) gave us a written statement that from now on he will not allow his animals to roam in residential areas or places of public importance.”