Fleeing horses seized from fields

Eleven horses have been seized from fields in Staffordshire after hundreds of incidents of them escaping.

Police and council officials removed them from land near Reginald Mitchell Way and Lowlands Road in Tunstall. It is not clear who owns them.

The land is owned by Newcastle Borough Council and the horses do not have formal permission to be liveried there.

There have been about 400 incidents reported to police between January 2007 and March 2008, a spokesman said.

"Today's joint action has been taken after continual problems with horses escaping from the fields and endangering road users, " he added.

"As a result the horses have been seized under Section 7 of the Animals Act and taken to an unspecified location."

A vet was present throughout the operation.

Anyone with a claim to the horses should contact Staffordshire Police.