HE was the police horse who captured the hearts of East Lancashire back in 2003.

Excalibur, at 19 the oldest serving horse with Lancashire Police, was injured in the line of duty and received a gashed thigh after being struck by a motorbike as its riders tried to drive away from police officers in Brierfield.

The stallion needed five staples in the wound and painkillers and was off duty for five weeks as he recovered.

But he made a full recovery and became something of a celebrity in the process. Six months after his accident, he was invited to switch on Brierfield’s Christmas lights.