A tied-up pony spotted on the beach in sweltering heat sparked an investigation by the RSPCA.

A beachgoer reported the situation to the charity after seeing the animal on the sands at Joss Bay near Broadstairs yesterday and were left concerned about its welfare.

The woman claimed the horse had "little to no food or water" and was lacking shelter so called in the charity to inspect.

Officers attended to check on the animal and have told the owner how to improve the conditions for the horse.

The concerns were raised amid searing temperatures yesterday which are set to continue today with the mercury hitting as high as 37C in some parts of the county.

But the RSPCA says there was no further action they could take after deciding no laws had been broken.

"We know this can be frustrating for animal lovers who report their concerns to us but we can only act within the law at all times..."

A spokesman for the charity said: "The RSPCA has received a report concerning a tethered pony in Thanet and an officer has recently visited to check on the welfare of the horse and given advice on changes that can be made to improve the welfare of this horse.

"While we don't agree with horses being kept tethered, it is not against the law and we can't stop people doing this.

"As long as the horse has access to food, water and shelter then there isn’t necessarily a law being broken, which is the case in this instance.

"We know this can be frustrating for animal lovers who report their concerns to us but we can only act within the law at all times."

Anyone with concerns for animal welfare can call the RSPCA cruelty hotline 24/7 on 0300 1234 999.

Escaped animals, unusual finds and news from the RSPCA can all be found here.

Read more: All the latest news from Thanet