Firefighters helped rescue a horse that was trapped after it fell into a ditch. 

The 500kg horse, measuring 14 hands, had been stuck in the ditch in Church Road, Rawreth, for five hours before an animal rescue team managed to release it at 5.30pm today. 

Crews managed to dig a slope in the riverbank before freeing the animal out of the mud and water.

Animal rescue gear was further used to get the horse to a place of safety.

Assistant Divisional Officer Martyn Hare said: "The rescue was extremely labour intensive and demanding on the crews' skills.

"We carried the equipment to the dyke before digging a slope and freeing the horse from the thick and deep mud of the riverbank.

"The horse had been in cold waters for over five hours and was very agitated. Since his rescue, he has warmed up in his stable and is now in the care of his extremely grateful owners.

"The rescue was a great team effort by our crews who handled the incident professionally, calmly and effectively."