Freddie, a six-year-old animal owned by Melanie Fisher, has already been voted North Yorkshire's best and has now been scrutinised by a national judge for the annual competition run by international animal charity The Donkey Sanctuary.

Mrs Fisher, 35, said she had only had Freddie for one year and he had a nice temperament.

She said: "He's so calm and gentle and absolutely nothing bothers him. He just doesn't get startled by anything and he loves children as well.

"When we bought him last year he just wouldn't let me catch him or go near him. I brought him down onto the beach for the first time – he'd never even seen the sand before – and he went up and down the beach. It was like he'd done it all his life."

The annual competition, run since 2003 and organised by the Sidmouth-based charity, aims to recognise high standards of animal welfare practice and awards donkeys and their owners.

Freddie was judged to be the best individual donkey in the North Yorkshire Coast region and will be competing against winners from other parts of the UK to win the national award.

A group of donkeys owned by Amanda Pickles in Filey was judged to be the best in the area and will now compete for the title of the Best Group of Beach Donkeys.

Jenifer Tucker, the national judge, said: "All of the regional winners stand a good chance because they are all of a high standard. The Filey group were very nicely turned out and very alert."

Molly Lloyd, the regional welfare officer for the sanctuary, said Freddie had probably won in Scarborough because he had strong bones and a good temperament.

She said: "He's got a real donkey look about him and a very unusual colour. But this is not a beauty contest it is to find the best looked after donkeys. I think he's done very well because the competition is very hot here and there are some beautiful donkeys."

The winners will be announced this week.