FIREFIGHTERS had to borrow a crane to free a horse trapped on a footbridge in Stacksteads.

Jeeves, a black, cob-type horse, was being ridden across the footbridge, which leads to Stacksteads Cemetery, by his owner Vicky Smith, of Cutter Lane, when his hind legs went through the surface.

Two fire crews from Bacup and the incident support unit from Accrington were called to the scene at 9.28am yesterday and Jeeves was released at 11. 20am.

Assistant fire divisional officer Neville Earnshaw said: "He went through the timber bridge which was rotten and finished up taking his weight on his chest and his legs were thrashing about under the bridge.

"After he was sedated by a vet we carefully positioned a special animal rescue net underneath him and borrowed a crane from Wards, of Burnley.

"We finally lifted the horse off the bridge, swung him across the river and deposited him safely on a pile of dry straw.

"He soon regained his footing after the vet gave him an antidote to the sedative and he was looking no worse for wear."

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