AN award winning horse was rescued by local firefighters last Sunday after it fell down a 12ft ditch near Princetown.

A call was received by Devon Fire Control at 8.30pm that a horse had become stuck in a ditch between a wall and a stable building.

Two appliances from Princetown and Tavistock attended.

The horse had fallen down the ditch and landed on its back. In order to stop the animal from becoming even more distressed, the firefighters decided to wait for the vet to arrive.

It was decided to ask a farmer from Merrivale to attend with a piece of lifting equipment. After the vet sedated the animal, firefighters then had 15 minutes to use the lifting equipment to bring the horse out of the ditch and onto a nearby field.

As the Times went to press, watch commander for Princetown Fire Station Henry Melle had learned that the horse was up and running with only a few minor cuts and bruises.