REDDITCH firefighters rescued a three-year-old horse which had fallen on its side and could not get back up.

They were called to land off Houndsfields Lane, Wythall, yesterday at 10.45am where the colt called Breeze had been on its side for about two hours.

Firefighter Tony Ventura said: "We don't really know how the horse got to be on its side but there is speculation it could have tripped up or had a run-in with another horse. It just couldn't get back up on to its feet."

Representatives from the RSPCA and two vets helped firefighters strap Breeze up so he could be brought back to his feet.

Mr Ventura said: "We had to use a fork-lift truck, which we borrowed from a local builders - it was lucky they were close by.

''We left him having a walk around the field and hopefully he will be okay."