A HORSE owner has praised the efforts of rescuers who came to the aid of his animal after it became stuck in a stream.

A JCB was eventually used to lift Charlie, a thoroughbred cross, out of the stream near Lartington Hall, near Barnard Castle, on Monday evening.

Steve Rodwell, of Barnard Castle, said without the work done by the firefighters, vets and other helpers, Charlie would almost certainly have died.

Charlie was being led by Mr Rodwell when a section of bank next to the stream gave way, leaving the horse wedged on his side and unable to get up.

Fire officers were unable to move Charlie using spades, ropes and winches, so Chris Kearton, who lives nearby, carefully dragged him up the bank using his JCB.

Mr Rodwell said: "I just want to say a big thank you to everyone who came to help - the firefighters, the vets, the gamekeeper and his wife. Without them I would have had a dead horse.

"Charlie's marvellous. He is a bit bruised but nothing long-lasting.

"We can't ride him for a few days but he'll be fine."

The accident happened at about 7.40pm and the rescue took nearly two hours.

Sub officer Derek Miller, of Barnard Castle fire station, said: "He was lying in the water when we got there. I think the cold must have made his muscles go numb.

"We tried pulling him up with ropes but he would only go so far so we arranged for the JCB.

"We're just glad that he's okay."