A horse has been seen tethered on a roadside, in the same place where another strangled itself by falling down a steep slope.

Yesterday the plight of horses left to graze near the road, in the Bishop Auckland area of County Durham, was the subject of debate on a radio programme.

Inspector George Osborne, from Bishop Auckland police, said that his officers got, on average, 40 calls a month complaining about stray and tethered horses.

About three weeks ago, a horse lost its footing when it was tethered on a steep bank next to the main road, near South Church, Bishop Auckland.

It was unable to get back up, and strangled itself in the struggle.

But Durham County Council has decided that enough is enough and has given notice that, as of Sunday, horses which are tethered on its land will be removed.

Public notices have been put up throughout the county, and advertisements placed in newspapers, warning horse owners of the move.

Insp Osborne was joined on the radio programme by Councillor Margaret Ingledew and Gary Teasdale, who was recently bitten and kicked by a stray horse.

He said that the police again intended to have a horse catching scheme.

"We are very keen to address the issue," said Insp Osborne.

"Horse owners leaving their animals on other people's land face losing them altogether, or will have to pay a heavy financial penalty to have them returned."