A RACEHORSE trainer has thanked the public for sharing her appeal to find her stolen horsebox, as well as police who tracked it down just hours after it was stolen.

Trainer Ruth Carr's horsebox was taken from a race meet at Thirsk Racecourse on Tuesday, June 18 just after lunchtime, but thanks to a fast-paced social media appeal by Mrs Carr and the work of North Yorkshire Police, it was found by 8pm.

Mrs Carr, from York, said: "I was not at that race but my staff said they discovered it was missing after lunch and immediately reported it.

"I pushed it on Facebook and Twitter and it got around really quickly but lots more people sharing the picture and information.

"I am really grateful to everyone who shared and offered to help us transport our horses home, and to those who reported sightings to the police.

"It is nice when social media can be a force for good, and we were thrilled that the box was found so quickly. It is a busy time of year for us so to be a horsebox down would have been a major problem."

She added: "The police are yet to release the horsebox back to us but thankfully we had a spare horsebox with us at Thirsk Races so we were able to get the horses home.

"Sadly, we didn't have any winners that day either – that would have made it a completely happy ending!"

A spokesman for North Yorkshire Police said: "We received a call just before 3pm on Tuesday, June 18 when the horsebox went missing.

"Officers searched for the horsebox, and received information from several members of the public who reported sightings, and officers tracked it down at around 8pm near West Tanfield.

"Officers seized the horsebox but no arrests have been made at this time. We are pleased to be able to reunited Ruth Carr with the horsebox, and we appreciate the support from the public who passed us information."