Enquiries have been launched after around 20 loose horses were spotted running through Bishop Auckland in the early hours.
Residents reported seeing loose horses in several parts of Bishop Auckland overnight on Tuesday, September 1.
Ian Hoult, Durham County Council’s neighbourhood protection manager, has now said they are making enquiries to establish the owners of the horses and have appealed to anyone for information.
Police confirmed they received multiple reports, starting at 2.45am when around 20 horses were seen loose on Station Road.
Officers were sent to the area, but another call at 2.59am placed the horses between Tesco and West Auckland.
On arrival, officers saw the horses beside the road at 3.20am, rather than on the carriageway.
At 3.34am, officers received another report of a black horse in the road “near the vets”.
Police returned to the area but could not find any horses.
There were no further calls until 5.47am, when police received a report of five loose horses on Greenfields Road.
Mr Hoult said: “We are aware of reports of loose horses in the Tindale Crescent area.
"We are making enquiries to establish who the horses belong to and would ask anyone with information to contact us on 03000 26 0000. We will continue to assess the situation and take any appropriate action available to us.”
Residents shared sightings across Facebook as concern grew.
One resident said the horses woke them during the night: "Whose horses are running around Tindale at 3am? I have just woken up to ridiculous screaming, thinking someone was being chased but no.... horses running out the estate in a perfect line with no one to be found.
"It was like something out of a horror movie or something. It was so weird.
"It sounded like somebody was in trouble being chased down until I looked out the window. All brown or brown/black and white."
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One resident said: "The sight of a load of horses wandering the streets is a regular occurrence and has been for years all over Woodhouse close and St Helens .
"Nothing new."
Another added: "It’s so sad some of them have foals, always in Melrose drive."
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