THEY say animals have an innate memory for facial recognition.

And Katie Burlinson was in for a nice surprise when Alfie the donkey popped his head through her car window for an amazing selfie.

Katie, 18, is a lifelong friend of the much-loved Minchinhampton donkey who recently cheated death after being hit by a car.

The plucky animal has returned to rude health and Katie was delighted to gab this stunning image when she popped up to Minchinhampton Common to say hello.

“I was really upset when I saw on the news that Alfie had been injured,” Katie revealed.

“Over the years I’ve popped up when he is out on the common to give him a cheeky treat like an apple or a mint, so I had to pop up to the common after his accident to see how he was doing and of course take him a treat, he is such a cheeky chappie and such a character, he came straight over to the car to say hello.”

Katie and Alfie go back many years and she first met him aged nine.

“My parents use to take us up to the common to look for Alfie and give him a mint, he's such a cutie,” added Kate.