Loose Bishop Auckland horses cause safety concerns

The horses were regularly wandering onto roads

Horses roaming loose in County Durham have been impounded over road safety concerns.

The animals were occasionally tethered but regularly became loose and strayed onto roads in the Bishop Auckland area, leading to fears of an accident.

They were also wandering onto a nearby football pitch.

Seven have now been caught by police and council officials and will be held for 14 days. If no owner comes forward new homes will be found for them.

The council said that since March it had received 300 reports of illegal grazing.

Karen Minter, enforcement coordinator at the county council said: "Impoundment is always a last resort and follows thorough attempts to find the owners.

"However in this case we have been forced to take this action because there was a real danger the animals would cause an accident, injuring the public and themselves."