THERE has been a happy ending to the story of a young horse whose condition has been worrying a lot of local residents.

Over the holiday period concern was raised on social media about the animal which was roaming wasteland around Tilbury.

Efforts were made to try and find its owners but so no avail.

So the Essex Horse and Pony Protection Society have stepped in to save him, and named him Albert!

They report: "Little Albert has cone into our care. He was dumped and reported roaming around the busy industrial area in Tilbury a couple of weeks ago.

"Despite a couple of attempts we had been unsuccessful in catching him, he was very scared of humans having been repeatedly shooed away and chased during this time to keep him out of the way of traffic.

"After three hours on New Year's Eve three of the sanctuary team (along with some gratefully received help from the public) managed to secure this little chap and bring him to the safety of the sanctuary.

"This morning he allowed us to gradually remove all the burrs in his mane and tail with a bribe of carrots and bum scratches.

"He will be checked over by our vets and a blood test carried out, he seems in quite good health but has a very big belly which may be an indication of worms.

"We believe he is only around six months old."

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