ONE of the region's last surviving pit ponies marked a milestone anniversary yesterday. Pip celebrated his 30th birthday at the Beamish museum, near Stanley, County Durham.

One of the last pit ponies to work in the Durham Coalfield, he has spent the past 18 years at the museum, pulling coal tubs in the drift mine and illustrating what was expected of the animals in turn-of-the-century collieries.

Museum director Miriam Harte said: "He is a great character and has never put a hoof wrong in all that time.

"He is a big favourite with our visitors. Thirty years is a good age for a pony, but he is not considering retirement yet."

He started his working life in the Blackburn Drift at Marley Hill Colliery, on the border of County Durham and Gateshead.

When the pit closed in 1979, he moved to Sacriston Colliery, near Durham. He worked there until it ceased production in 1985, and was kept on for another year to help with salvage work. In 1986, he was given to Beamish.

Staff yesterday gave him a carrot cake as a birthday treat.

On hand to congratulate him was former Beamish drift mine under-manager Martin Gallagher, who worked with Pip for more than a decade, before he retired last year aged 65.

He said: "He has been a wonderful servant to Beamish and has brought thousands of people in.

"He is still the star of Beamish and people come just to see him. He is a really good-natured pony."

Pip is so well-known at the museum that he will star in a children's booklet produced by staff.

Pip the Pony Explores, written and illustrated by assistant education officer Richard Stevenson, is an activity book for youngsters that aims to help them understand the museum.