A HORSE had to be put down after it bolted and ran into cars and a terrace house.

The horse, which was pulling a trap, was startled by a plastic bag, which flew into its face in Fines Road, Medomsley, near Consett.

It damaged two cars, the front of a house and a gas pipe, breaking its leg in the incident at 3pm, yesterday. The driver of the trap was unharmed.

"I just heard this almighty bang and the house shook," said Fines Road resident Graham Davison.

"I thought a wagon had crashed into the house. My car needs about £1,000 worth of repairs and my neighbour's front door had some slight damage.

"We have a lot of problems with traffic turning in too fast from the main road, and I was knocked down three years ago, but nothing like this has ever happened before."

Sergeant Tim Robson, of Consett police, said British Gas workers had been sent to make the area safe after a gas pipe was cut.