THE Army, police, a vet and workers joined forces yesterday to rescue a horse from a hole in a tricky four-hour operation.

Police were called to High Spen, near Gateshead, by the animal's owner, who found the horse at 9.25am yesterday.

The 18-year-old horse, named Storm, had become stuck in a hole measuring two metres square. Only the head, chest and forelegs of the horse were visible above the ground as the animal became increasingly frantic.

A vet administered a tranquilliser and a nearby JCB was used to enlarge the hole, while military staff worked to move away the soil. The digger was also used to winch the horse out.

Chief Inspector Ralph Logan said: "The military, workmen, police and the vet all worked tirelessly to help save the horse.

"They had to support the neck and the head of the horse in spite of a large mechanical digger working alongside them.

"At any moment the horse could have kicked out. This was a huge team effort, which lasted about four hours. The horse is now under observation for the next 12 hours."