A dead horse has been found in a narrow country lane.

WARNING: Graphic image below

The animal was spotted in Warren Lane, Hartlip, near Sittingbourne, this morning.

It was reported to Swale council's cabinet member for community, Cllr Richard Palmer (Swale Ind).

He said: "I think it's absolutely appalling.

"It's distressing to look at and I used to be in the ambulance service.

"Anyone driving past there, including children who might have been going to school, could be seriously distressed by this.

"I think the horse must have suffered before it died. The fact it's been dumped is disgusting.

"I've highlighted it to the environmental response team and they will go out to assess it."

A Swale council spokesman confirmed it had received a report of a dead horse and added that officers had been sent to investigate.

The horse was chipped and council staff are awaiting ownership details.

Cllr Palmer said a sighting of a dead horse in a field in nearby Spade Lane, in Hartlip, had been reported to him earlier this week.

He added that the council could not do anything about the animal in the field as it had no jurisdiction over private land.

An RSPCA spokesman said: "It is heartbreaking to hear that a poor horse has died and their body dumped.

"We will be working with the local council to look into this and would urge anyone with information to contact the RSPCA on 0300 1234 999.

"Over the last few years we have been called about the bodies of horses and ponies dumped like this in locations up and down the country, and often they are not microchipped so we have no way of tracing the owner.

"Whether it happens because it is costly to dispose of a dead horse, or just a very callous attitude from owners who believe horses are simply disposable like rubbish, it is completely unacceptable.

"We advise anyone who is unfortunate enough to find a dead horse to contact their local council as soon as possible so they can remove the body.

"If the circumstances surrounding a death are suspicious we would urge people to call the RSPCA."

Swale council will return to where the horse was found on Monday with the RSPCA to investigate further.

A council spokesman said it was on Kent Wildlife Trust land. The trust has been contacted for comment.

He added: “We are continuing to work with the RSPCA to investigate the incident, and we are following lines of enquiry to establish the facts of what happened.”

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