CONCERNS have been raised for the wellbeing of five horses who were abandoned on Bournemouth parkland a week ago.

The horses are on short chains at Redhill Common with no access to shelter, food or drink.

Kind-hearted residents have been bringing the animals fresh water and food, while Bournemouth council has given the horses’ owner until today to remove the animals from the common.

If this does not happen, the council could step in and sell the horses.

Redhill resident Steve Larcombe said: “All the local people have taken them to their hearts. They have been abandoned in the freezing cold and they are in a relatively exposed location.

“There’s no straw for them and even their water has not been changed.

“Whoever’s left them there is not feeding them or watering them, they are not being managed.

“And with all the stories in the news about horsemeat in food, you wonder what would happen if they were simply taken away by the council and sold.”

Winton resident Linda Mattocks, who has been feeding the horses, said: “They are beautiful horses and deserve good homes.”

Katie Wilkinson, senior countryside ranger, said: “We would like to thank residents for their concern over some abandoned horses on Redhill Common and to reassure them that our rangers have been down to the site on a daily basis to monitor the situation.

“Some of the horses had broken free from their tether and the police, our ranger and the owners were onsite this morning rounding them up.

“The owners were made aware that their horses have been grazing illegally and have been asked to remove them from our local nature reserve. We expect the horses to be removed today.

“We strongly urge horse owners not to abandon horses on local nature reserves.”