A SEVEN-YEAR-OLD girl has been left devastated by the loss of her Shetland pony, which was killed in an arson attack at the weekend.

Michelle Parker said her daughter, Georgia Jackson, could not understand why her five-year-old horse, called Fergie, was targeted in the attack.

The fire, which also killed Georgia's pet rabbit Poppet, destroyed wooden stables in Quaking Houses, near Stanley, in the early hours of Sunday.

Before the fire was started, the family's thoroughbred horse, named Tufty, was led out of the stable.

Miss Parker, who lives in Stanley with her partner, Robert Jackson, said: "A friend called to tell me that the stables had been on fire.

"I had no idea of the extent of the damage and devastation until I got down there.

"It was the most horrific scene and I just couldn't believe that someone would deliberately do this."

She added: "Georgia is totally devastated because she loved the pony - both the horses are part of our family.

"She's just lost and can't understand what's happened. How do you explain something like that?

"We don't know if it's been a random attack. Whoever did it obviously didn't think to check the rest of the building. It's just too awful to think about how frightened they must have been."

She said: Hopefully, somebody out there has got as conscience and will come forward."

Miss Parker, who has ridden horses all her life and bought Tufty six years ago, left the stable block at about 6pm on Saturday after putting the horses away for the night and returning home.

Emergency services were called to the block just before 2.15am after getting reports of a fire.

Three fire engines attended the scene, but the stables were already well alight.

Even though fire officers were unaware there were animals inside, they told Miss Parker nothing could have been done to save either Fergie or Poppet.

Station manager Peter Hewitson, of Darlington and Durham Fire and Rescue, said: "It was obviously a horrific discovery and so upsetting for the owner. Investigations are ongoing."

Police particularly want to hear from anyone who saw anything suspicious between 6pm on Saturday and 2.14am on Sunday when the fire started.

Anyone with information is asked to call police at Stanley on (01207) 232144.