A LANDOWNER has been ordered to remove a dead horse from his field after it died more than five weeks ago.

Residents in Evenwood, in Teesdale, County Durham, complained to Durham County Council and the RSPCA after the horse was left to rot in the field.

It is believed the horse was shot after suffering a traumatic birth but despite the landowner agreeing to remove it over the weekend, it is still there.

One resident, who did not want to be named, branded the problem a “disgrace”, saying it is an annual occurrence.

“The horse died five weeks ago this weekend and it’s a concern especially now it’s getting warmer. It’s going to decay and the smell last year was horrendous,” she said.

The council have now served an enforcement order notice on the landowner, meaning he will have to remove the horse by Friday, May 6.

Joanne Waller, head of environment, health and consumer protection at Durham County Council, said: “We have visited the site this afternoon and, as the animal has not been properly disposed of, we have served an enforcement notice on the landowner requiring that they do so by Friday, May 6.”