A foal was rescued by firefighters after falling into a Cheshire canal.

The young horse was unable to scramble out of the canal by Stanney Mill Road, Little Stanney, near Ellesmere Port, so specialist fire crews were called just before 3pm yesterday (Thursday March 12).

Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service’s animal rescue team from Knutsford and firefighters from Ellesmere Port Fire Station managed to get the foal close to the bank where straps where placed around its body to pull the animal out.

A foal is rescued from a canal by Stanney Mill Road, Little Stanney, near Ellesmere Port
A foal is rescued from a canal by Stanney Mill Road, Little Stanney, near Ellesmere Port

Crews remained at the scene until a vet and the RSPCA arrived to check the foal was fit after its ordeal. The animal was shivering from the cold water but otherwise unharmed.

The 11 hands high youngster was then allowed to rejoin other horses in a neighbouring field from where it is believed to have escaped.