POLICE were forced to close a busy road after three horses became entangled in a horsebox yesterday.

The incident, which happened on the A66 Darlington bypass at about 3pm, led to a woman being taken to hospital with minor injuries.

It occurred when a partition inside the horsebox collapsed, throwing the three horses against each other.

Police were forced to contact firefighters, who used hydraulic equipment to lift the stricken horses out of the box.

Two of the animals suffered minor injuries, as did a woman who tried to free them.

Sergeant David Kirton, of Darlington police, said the incident resulted in that part of the A66 being closed for a short time