FIRE crews battled for nearly two hours to rescue a 20-year-old horse stuck in a river. A vet was called to assist as firefighters from Thaxted, Stansted, Saffron Walden and Harlow used strops and lifting gear to haul the beast to safety. The river cuts t

FIRE crews battled for nearly two hours to rescue a 20-year-old horse stuck in a river.

A vet was called to assist as firefighters from Thaxted, Stansted, Saffron Walden and Harlow used strops and lifting gear to haul the beast to safety. The river cuts through land off the B1051 on the Thaxted side of Great Sampford.

Initially two crews attended the scene at about 7pm on Saturday, but an off-road vehicle was required along with additional manpower.

The incident occurred less an hour after fire crews were called to another horse which had become trapped in a river at Paradise Park in Chelmsford.