Police are warning landowners to keep their horses and ponies safe and secure after dealing with two incidents of horses running onto a busy dual carriageway near Basildon in two days.

Five horses were seen running on the A127 near the junction with Pound Lane, Benfleet, at 12.15am on Sunday, April 26.

One was in collision with a car. The driver was left shaken and the vehicle suffered minor damage.

Police closed the London bound carriageway from the Rayleigh Spur roundabout.

The five horses were herded to safety by 3.05am.

Several members of the public called police from 5.45am on Monday, April 27, reporting two horses were running between the Sadlers Farm roundabout, at the junction of the A13 and A130, and the Fairglen Interchange on the A127.

Road closures were put in place on the A127 at the Fairglen Interchange and the junction of the A129 and A127 between 6.25am and 7am.

Police managed to herd the horses off the road to safety by 6.50am.

They are now looking for the owner to come forward to claim the animals and contact police on 101. One of the horses is white and brown and the other is chestnut coloured.

Sgt Mark Yorke-Wade, of Laindon Road Policing Unit, said: "Horses running loose on the roads can cause serious accidents and put the lives of road users at risk.

"We would urge horse owners to make sure their animals are kept in a secure area where they cannot stray onto roads or paths.”