A HORSE had to be rescued after falling down a pit at the weekend.

The County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service’s (CDDFRS) specialist animal rescue crew, from Bishop Auckland, rushed to the horse’s aid at about 3.15pm on Saturday, October 7.

Firefighters were aided by other crews from Newton Aycliffe and flexi duty officer Graeme Metcalf, and spent two hours trying to free the animal from the five-foot pit in Eldon, near Bishop Auckland.

The horse had suffered injuries to its side and its owners thought it could have been stuck there overnight.

The crews used animal rescue slings, gas detection, water rescue dry suits and a Hi Ab lift to remove the white horse after it had been sedated by a vet.

The pit is used as a draining pit for water run-off from the surrounding fields and was filled with water and debris.

A CDDFRS spokeswoman said: “We aren’t sure how long the horse had been in the pit, but the owner believes it may have been in overnight, the horse had injuries to its side.”