Fire crews rescued two horses which fell into a slurry pit and were trapped for almost three hours.

Three horses had managed to get past a broken fence to the edge of the huge slurry pit at Broadreed Farm, near Mayfield, yesterday.

One fell into the mire and, as its owners tried to rescue it, another followed.

Firefighters from nearby Mayfield arrived at the scene and after assessing the situation called for back-up from the animal rescue unit based in Crowborough.

The unit arrived complete with crane and winch and a second fire crew from Heathfield was called to provide more manpower.

Two firefighters donned dry suits and climbed into the slurry with the horses to attach slings.

Mark Rist, sub officer at Mayfield fire station, said: "It was starting to get dark and we had to get the floodlights off the back of the truck and get the generator going.

"It was very smelly and sticky work. The guys in the slurry were in and out of there for two hours.

"We had to give them a good hosing down afterwards. They did a good job."

After a lot of

heaving and manoeuvring, both horses were eventually rescued from the pit after an ordeal lasting almost three hours.

A vet examined both animals and gave them the

all-clear.

Sub officer Rist said: "Although it was a bit of an unpleasant job it had a happy ending so it was quite rewarding.

"When we got them out, there was a bit of cheer. The owners were very pleased the horses were safe.

"It's quite lucky someone actually saw them going in. We could easily have had three horses in there.

"If they had got cold they could have gone into shock and it would have been a lot worse.

"I think both horses will make a full recovery."

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