AN ELDERLY horse made a miraculous recovery after becoming trapped in a ditch.

Todd, a 26-year-old Welsh Cob, had become stuck on his side in the ditch at the bottom of his field at Spindle Point Stables in Kearsley, after slipping during the night.

He was discovered this morning by the grand daughter of his owner, Julie Arden, who then contacted a vet and the fire brigade.

Specialist animal rescue teams from Eccles and Leigh fire stations, alongside crews from Farnworth, led attempts to free Todd.

The ordeal had made the animal very distressed, however by the time fire crews arrived he had been somewhat calmed down.

Over a three hour rescue, a team of fifteen firefighters fixed straps around the horses belly and used manpower to haul him up onto an embankment.

Crews then used a digger and specialist lifting equipment to move Todd to the other side of the ditch and back to the safety of his field.

Their efforts were complicated by Todd's pre-existing troubles with his hip and an arthritic knee.

Once back on solid ground crews made sure Todd was able to stand under his own power and thankfully, with a and he was checked over by a veterinarian, Matthew Raven.