A PONY from the Somerset Levels Riding for the Disabled Association is playing a starring role in a forthcoming television series.

Troy, the largest pony at the local carriage-driving for the disabled group, had a day off from being driven by clients in wheelchairs to pull a 1940s rag and bone cart for BBC series High Street Dreams.

Troy in his starring role drawing a rag and bone cart for camera crews in Shepton Mallet.

The series is being filmed to give a flavour of life in Shepton Mallet High Street since Victorian times. Troy, and his owner's original trade-cart, were called in for the fourth episode, which focuses on the time of the Second World War.

With most men away in the forces at that time, the Levels group's male drivers were barred from taking Troy's reins for the filming. Instead his owner, Bev Trout, lent her teenage son, David, for the role.

Bob Hose, chairman of the Somerset Levels RDA carriage driving group, said: "The day's filming involved David driving Troy and the cart five miles up and down the hills of Shepton Mallet, while Bev and I ran along behind to be available for any snags."

The disabled carriage-driving group supplied Troy and a support team for the day to help the BBC and raise funds towards a replacement for its aging horse-box, needed to transport ponies and specially adapted carriages to events for disabled drivers.