ANIMAL-lover Sue Dicker wants Longleat to lead the charge in ensuring that elephants are given coats which will offer them warmth and protection during the winter.

The 55-year-old, from Essex, has handstitched and machine sewed a 10ft x 6ft purple coat – which is both waterproof on the outside and fleeced on the inside – for Longleat’s resident elephant, Anne.

And the secretary has written to Viscount and Viscountess Weymouth at the £190 million stately home to ask if they would use the coat on Anne, who is believed to be Europe’s oldest Asian elephant.

“A lot of work has gone into making it and from start to finish it took about a week,” said Mrs Dicker, who volunteered at Thailand’s Elephant Nature Park last year.

“It was made purely for Anne, no one else. It’s something that I would like Longleat to trail blaze. Someone has to be the start as the weather is getting colder for longer and quicker.

“In Thailand the elephants had coats put on them in 20-degree heat because they still get cold, and it’s especially important for the older ones as their skin gets thinner and they shudder because they are in the cold.”

Made from 100 per cent polyester, the coat is both machine washable and can be sponged down and has an A blazoned on it specifically for Anne, who is in her 60s.

The elephant moved to the park four years ago and was recently relocated to a new £1.2 million enclosure in February.

“I do think they [Longleat] need to lead the charge,” added Mrs Dicker.

“There’s a lot of people that want her [Anne] to go elsewhere but if this isn’t going to happen the next best thing is to have the comfort of a coat.

“I’ve always loved elephants but I’ve never made anything for anybody before. I always bought my dogs their coats for the winter but now I’m inspired to make their own coats.

“It’s been a labour of love.”

A spokesperson from Longleat said: "It’s such a lovely gesture to have thought of this for Anne. She has a great many fans and it’s good to know there are so many caring people out there.

"Anne is actually very good at dealing with British climate and weather here in the park and keepers monitor her behaviour and wellbeing on a daily basis. We often have reviews of her core temperature through thermal cameras and on top of that she also have a high-tech heating system in her house which is actually more advanced that heating systems we would expect to have in our own homes.

"Although we appreciate the nice thought of the winter coat for Anne we are concerned that it will not really benefit Anne and may cause her distress at the thought of having something unusual on her.

"Of course, if we were provided with one we would keep it in storage and review if there was ever a situation which arises where there may be an important need to utilise it for Anne."