Roaming horses spotted around Sandwich have now been moved after the animals continually escaped.

Five horses were kept in a field near to Sandwich Mowers, in Woodnesborough Road, before they escaped and caused havoc around the town.

Paul Jones, manager at Sandwich Mowers, said the horses are owned by a group of travellers in Aylesham.

He said: “The horses broke out into the Scout field with horse mess all up the fields. It was a total mess.”

The horses also caused damage to a red Volkswagen Golf when they broke its wing mirror.

Police were first called on Monday, July 13, when the horses were found in Dover Road near Sandwich Technology School and again on Tuesday, July 14, to Woodnesborough Road.

A police spokesman said: “There have been several reports of the horses roaming the street. Local officers are working with DDC to identify the landowner to urge them to ensure the location is secured.”

When residents later noticed the horses had disappeared from the field, the spokesperson said: “The horses were on the highway so officers took them to a place of safety. The horses have since been returned to the owners and we understand they have been placed elsewhere.”

Katya Mira, senior RSPCA press officer for the South East, confirmed that the charity was not involved in the removal of the horses and this was a matter for the police.
However, she said throughout the UK, the RSPCA and other animal welfare charities are struggling to cope with a horse crisis.

She said: “There are already more than 600 horses, ponies and donkeys in the charity’s care, while more than 22,000 calls were made to the RSPCA about equines in 2014.”