A SEVEN-YEAR-OLD girl has been left devastated by the loss of her Shetland pony, which was killed in an arson attack at the weekend.

Michelle Parker said her daughter, Georgia Jackson, could not understand why her five-year-old horse, called Fergie, was targeted in the attack.

The fire, which also killed Georgia's pet rabbit Poppet, destroyed wooden stables in Quaking Houses, near Stanley, in the early hours of Sunday.

Before the fire was started, the family's thoroughbred horse, named Tufty, was led out of the stable.

Miss Parker, who lives in Stanley with her partner, Robert Jackson, said: "Georgia is totally devastated because she loved the pony - both the horses are part of our family.

"She's just lost and can't understand what's happened. How do you explain something like that?

"We don't know if it's been a random attack.

"Whoever did it obviously didn't take think to check the rest of the building."

She added: Hopefully, somebody out there has got as conscience and will come forward."

Police particularly want to hear from anyone who saw anything suspicious between 6pm on Saturday and 2.14am on Sunday when the fire started.

Anyone with information is asked to call police at Stanley on (01207) 232144.