Fire crews were called to help rescue a horse stuck in mud.

Ollie the stallion had found himself in trouble after coming across what crews called a “seriously thick” patch of mud in a field off Pilgrims Way, Hythe.

A specialist Kent Fire and Rescue team spent more than four hours on Thursday morning attending to the 26-year-old animal, lifting him up with specialist equipment including machinery to hoist the horse back on his feet.

Called out at 6.50am, crews were able to leave Ollie, who escaped the ordeal without injury, at about 11.13am in the care of his owner.

Kent’s fire service has a team dedicated to such scenarios.

The animal rescue unit (ARU), based in Faversham, is made up of specially trained animal-loving firefighters, who have a passion for helping all creatures great and small, and they can be deployed across the county at any time.

While most people don’t consider animal rescue when they think of KFRS, the force says it is an important role that sees the Kent crew helping a variety of species, from household pets to horses, deer and even elephants.

Equipped with a range of tools and machinery, including winches, straps and a crane, the team is able to manoeuvre and lift heavy animals that have got themselves into tricky situations or are unable to move.

A KFRS spokesperson said: “Kent Fire and Rescue Service was called to reports of a horse stuck in mud off Pilgrims Way in Hythe.

“The animal rescue unit attended, as well as the technical rescue unit, and crews used specialist equipment to safely lift the horse back onto its feet.

“The animal was uninjured and was left in the care of its owner.”