'Amazing' response to dying wish of horse farewell

Sheila Marsh was granted her final wish of seeing her favourite horse Bronwen just before her death

Staff at a hospital who made a dying patient's final wish to see her favourite horse again come true said they are "amazed" by the response from people around the world.

Medics at Royal Albert Edward Infirmary in Wigan granted Sheila Marsh's last wish by arranging a visit from two of her horses outside the hospital.

The 77-year-old cancer patient died early on Tuesday.

Nurses said messages from around the world have helped her family.

The grandmother from Wigan, who used to work at Haydock Park Racecourse, had six horses, three dogs, three cats and other animals.

She "gently called" her favourite horse Bronwen, who then nuzzled her cheek while she lay in her bed, the hospital said.

Mrs Marsh's daughter Tina said she "thought the world of her animals".

Pauline Jones, nursing director at Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust said: "We've had such an emotional response from far and wide, from Australia and Hong Kong.

"The emails we've had have been amazing, it's been beyond anything we could have imagined."

Actor Ricky Gervais shared the story on social media