Vet sedates the animal before specialist equipment is used to free it.

Firefighters rescued a horse stuck in a ditch at Chineway Road, Ottery St Mary, at around 6pm yesterday evening (Tuesday, December 12).

Crews from Ottery St Mary and Honiton, along with the specialist rescue team from the Exmouth station, attended the incident.

On arrival the officer in charge confirmed that the horse was stuck in the ditch and would need the assistance of the telehandler from the Urban Search and Rescue Station, based at headquarters in Exeter.

A local vet attended the scene and sedated the horse whilst the crew prepared the harness for the arrival of the telehandler.

At 8.55pm the horse was rescued uninjured from the ditch using specialist equipment and the telehandler.

The horse was left in the care of its woman owner who had called the emergency services for help.