A HORSE had to be rescued by firefighters on Wednesday afternoon after it became stuck in a hole on a farmer's field in Northwich.

Four fire engines attended the scene shortly before 5pm, after reports of an 18 hands high Shire horse being unable to get itself out of a hole, which was two metres deep.

The animal rescue unit was also in attendance at the field off Byley Lane, with the incident becoming very much a team effort, including the assistance of the farmer himself, as they all managed to safely lift the horse out of the hole using strops and an excavator.

A spokesman for Cheshire Fire Service said: "An 18 hand shire horse was stuck in a hole which was two metres deep, three metres long and one metre wide and unable to get out.

"A vet attended to assist the safe rescue of the horse by sedating the animal.

"Animal rescue trained firefighters used strops and other equipment along with the farmers excavator to lift the horse out of the hole.

"The horse was safely lifted out of the hole using the excavator and laid on the ground so that the team could remove the strops.

"The horse was then left in the care of the vet and the farmer."

The four fire crews, from Winsford, Lymm, Knutsford and Bollington, were dispatched to the scene at 4.43pm.