Two missing Shetland ponies found after UK-wide search

The two ponies were found in a rural area of a London borough

Two of six Shetland ponies that went missing from a national park have been reunited with their owner after being found by a member of the public.

The free-roaming animals disappeared from land around Bramshaw and Cadnam in the New Forest, Hampshire, in July, sparking a UK-wide search.

Owner James Penny went to collect the pair on Saturday, after they were spotted running down a narrow country lane in a rural area of a London borough.

He said he was "happy" to have them back, adding: "We've just got to find the others."

The two recovered ponies were described as "terrified" by Mr Penny's neighbour

Hampshire police previously said the six animals were believed to have been stolen from an address on Cadnam Lane between 20 and 22 July.

Mr Penny's neighbour Lisa Merritt and her daughter Anna mounted a social media campaign after the ponies disappeared.

On Saturday, Ms Merritt and another neighbour went with Mr Penny to collect the two ponies, who are a mother and daughter.

The other four are still missing.

Ms Merritt said the retrieval of the two "terrified" ponies had been "fraught and emotional", with one taking about three hours to catch.

"We just want to get her back and get her comfortable again," she said.

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary has been contacted by the BBC.

Mr Penny said he was "happy" to have two of the ponies back but wants to find the other four