Horse trapped in water-filled ditch for three hours

Firefighters have rescued a horse after she became stuck in three feet (1m) of water.

Specialist animal rescue crews were called to a ditch by Church Lane, Billericay, at about midday on Monday, Essex County Fire and Rescue Service said.

A vet sedated the horse, called Bonnie, to make the rescue operation "safer", it said.

Lines and strops were used to pull her to the bank at about 15:00 GMT and left in the care of her owner.