Concerns have been raised about the welfare of a group of horses after one of them had to be put down.

The animals have been kept in a field under the motorway bridge in Borstal for the last seven months.

During that time one of the horses died and a stallion which was in poor health and had lost a lot of weight had to be put to sleep.

Ashleigh Cause, who has been caring for the animals since they arrived, said if it was not for her and other local residents, they would not have any food.

The nursery teacher added: “I have only seen the owner once. And I have been down there twice a day, at all different times of the day.

"Me and my partner take food down for them and take bowls of water.

“There is never any sign of any food being left there by the owner.”

The horses have escaped several times after trampling down the fence and it has been left to Miss Cause and her partner Scott Butler to get them back into the field.

She said: “The horse that was shot was left in the field and was being eaten by foxes. It was not very nice.

“I have called the RSPCA several times over the last seven months. Something needs to be done.”

The body of the horse has since been removed from the field.

The spokesman for the RSPCA was unable to comment on the welfare of the remaining four horses but said anyone concerned about an animal can call the RSPCA on 0300 1234 999.

A previous version of this story contained pictures of the wrong horses. We apologise for this error.

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