Horley Town Council has told Surrey Police to remove several stray horses the next time they break free.

The town council says there is an on-going problem of horses grazing on Emlyn Meadows, having escaped from the adjacent field. 

Several horses have been illegally left in the field, which lies between Emlyn Meadows and Bonehurst Road.

But within a short period of time, the horses were finding their way through several gaps in the boundary fence and moving onto Emlyn Meadows to graze there.

A council said: "On several occasions we have arranged for all the horses to be taken back to the original field following which all the fences and stiles and some residents’ fencing has been repaired by town council contractors, in an attempt to make this “horse proof”.

"The Town Council has also contacted the joint landowners of the adjacent land, namely the RSPCA, Cancer Research UK and Barnardo’s. The RSPCA has conducted an assessment of the horses and the three charities will be billed for the fencing repairs carried out to date.

"Surrey Police have also attended several times to deal with the matter as on a number of occasions some of the horses have strayed onto public highways.

"The Town Council has gone to considerable public expense to deal with this matter and today has requested that Surrey Police remove the horses, next time they stray onto the highway."

Residents are requested not to feed the horses as it is believe this encourage them to continue to stray onto Emlyn Meadows.

Dog walkeers are also requested to keep their animals under control when near any horse found on the meadow.