RSPCA inspectors are monitoring the condition of a horse tethered near Darlington town centre, after receiving 70 calls from concerned members of the public.

The horse is tethered in a field off Albert Road and residents in the area expressed concern after they thought it was not being fed.

One resident, Mary Duncan, said she regularly fed the animal because she was worried about it.

She said: "There is no shelter in the field and you can't see any water.

"The horse has been there since December and I have never seen anyone looking after it."

The RSPCA said that they have received numerous calls about the animal and had traced its owner.

However, because of strict laws governing tethered animals, the inspectors are unable to move the animal unless they can prove it is suffering.

A spokeswoman said: "It may seem to people that we are not doing anything about this animal, but that is simply not the case.

"Inspectors have visited the horse on numerous occasions and will continue to monitor it.

"We have spoken to the owner who is aware we are concerned.

"Under current legislation, unless we can prove that a tethered animal is physically suffering, we cannot take any action.

"Because the animal is being fed and is not ill we can do no more than monitor its condition.

"People sometimes forget that horses have very thick coats and can cope with harsh weather conditions.

"We want people to know we are aware of this animal, but it has been assessed as not suffering."

The spokeswoman also said that although tethering animals was not ideal, in some ways it made the RSPCA's job easier.

She said: "If an animal is tethered at least we know where it is and can monitor it.

"Tethered horses often spend their whole lives like that and if the owners think people are interfering, they will simple move the animal away, but it will still be tethered.

"We urge anyone who sees an animal they are concerned about to get in touch."