A HORSE that became trapped in a river had to be rescued by firefighters this morning.

Fire crews from Heywood, Whitefield and Bolton were called to the scene, near the New Bank Garden Centre in Bury Road, Radcliffe, at 9.45am and spent almost two hours freeing the three-year-old horse, named Thor.

The horse’s owner was in attendance and had gone into the river herself to hold its head up out of the water. She was assessed by paramedics at the scene.

The horse was eventually pulled to safety by 15 firefighters, including a Water Incident Rescue Team, after twice being sedated.

A fire service spokesman said: “We attempted to walk the horse out of the river but it only got stuck further. Eventually we put straps underneath him and a cover over his head so we could pull him out.

“The horse had to be sedated twice by a vet before being rescued, but he came out safe and well.”

Watch Manager Mark Bamford, of Heywood Fire Station, added: “We want to remind people not to put themselves in danger by trying to rescue their pets from water and call 999 straight away so we can attend and use our specialist equipment and skills.”