A horse rider says she feared for her life after a car overturned, onto another, while trying to get past on a narrow country lane.

Stacey Chapman was behind a Kia, making her way up Holly Hill near Birling at around 12.40pm on Monday, when a gold Volvo came towards her on the single track road.

She said it overtook an oncoming VW which had pulled over in a passing place, before trying to get around the Kia by mounting the bank.

As it began to roll, her horse, Revuelo, spun, reared and bolted down the steep hill.

The 36-year-old, of Ryarsh Park, said: “I heard revving of his engine and tyres crunching and slipping, clearly still forcing his way through, and then saw the car start to flip over.

"At this point my horse started to run backwards. The car flipped and I didn’t see anymore as the awful noise of crunching metal and smashing glass happened, as my mare reared and spun to bolt in flight mode.

“I heard the car land as my mare was bolting down the steepest part of Holly Hill towards oncoming traffic.

“I genuinely feared for my life as my horse was fleeing for hers and I couldn’t pull her up.”

Thankfully the horse slowed and stopped at the sight of oncoming cars and, shaking all over, was coaxed back to the scene where Ms Chapman wanted to check noone had been injured.

She said the two young children in the Kia, which the Volvo had rolled onto, were screaming and the driver had to go to hospital with an arm injury.

Ms Chapman said the experience had put her off riding on roads, adding: “I can’t even begin to consider it, the thought makes me feel sick.

“I want to make more people aware of just how much room there is on country lanes, and the reactions of horses when they spook or bolt - it can be devastating and fatal.”

The incident was reported to the police. Enquiries are on-going.