A DEAD horse has been found illegally abandoned and tied to a burnt-out car by the side of the road.

An RSPCA inspector visited the site, at Marsh Road, at Ruckinge, near Ashford, and covered the black and white horse with a tarpaulin, weighed down with tyres.

The horse, whose owner is not known, was later removed by a council-contracted knackers yard.

Although the horse had probably been dead when it arrived at the scene, it was tethered to a burnt out car that has been there for a few weeks.

A spokesman for the RSPCA said: “It is illegal to dump an animal like that."

Since last year, horse owners have had to join a Government 'passport’ scheme that costs £15 to join or £28 for horse businesses. When a horse dies, the owner must contact the local knackers yard with their membership number to remove and dispose of the animal, for which there is a further charge.

Peter Sillibourne, the owner of the farm next to where the horse was found, said it would cost him more than £65 to dispose of a horse. He thinks the horse was left by someone who did not want to pay the charges.

He said: “I’ve never seen a dead horse left out like this before but it’s going to happen more and more. Instead of fridges there will be animals dumped around the countryside.”

Anyone with any information about the horse is asked to contact the RSPCA on 0870 5555999.