A HORSE called Sarah has been renamed Lucky after firefighters battled to free it from a bog yesterday.

Fifteen officers from Darlington, Bishop Auckland and Peterlee, County Durham, were involved in the rescue in a field opposite the new Darlington football stadium in the town's Neasham Road.

Sarah's owner, Hannibal Harker, was alerted by a neighbour who was walking his dog when he discovered the horse trapped in slurry.

Firefighters from Darlington were joined by a rope rescue unit from Peterlee, and a heavy rescue vehicle was called from Bishop Auckland.

A harness was fitted to the horse and a winch fixed from the heavy rescue vehicle to a fire appliance on the other side of the bog.

The rescue started at 8.30am and Sarah, an eight-year-old, 800kg Clydesdale mare, was released an hour-and-a-half later.

It is thought the horse is in the early stages of pregnancy.

Assistant Divisional Officer Les Greenwood said at the scene: "It wasn't easy. We'd just about got her out and she started to fight and slipped back in, so we had to start again.

"In the end it was a highly successful operation. The same lads worked on a similar job about nine months ago in Bishop Auckland, which ended with the horse having to be put down, so they are all elated that this time there has been a happy ending."

Vet Sandy Edwards and veterinary assistant Asheley Simms were called out from the nearby Kensington Veterinary Care practice.

Asheley said: "She's fine. We just monitored her heartbeat and now we need to keep an eye on her in case she gets stressed."

Mr Harker, speaking as he washed slurry from Sarah and himself, said: "The mare was great. She stayed calm and she seems absolutely fine. We'll be calling her Lucky from now on."