A horse found frantically thrashing around on its back in a ditch had to be sedated by a vet before it could be got out.

The distressed animal was discovered stranded last night in Riverhill in Sevenoaks just before 9.30pm.

A specialist animal rescue unit from Kent Fire and Rescue Service was sent to the scene but the agitated animal had to be sedated by a vet to calm it down before firefighters could set about rescuing it.

The horse was finally recovered and re-united with its owner shortly after 11.30pm.