A full-scale rescue operation swung into action when two horses and three people became stuck in mud on the Wirral coastline.
Fire crews joined Merseyside Police , North West Ambulance Service , the RNLI and Liverpool coastguard in the rescue operation at Moreton beach.
The alarm was raised at 10.25am today, to reports that two horses had become stuck about 300m from the shore.
Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service sent two fire engines and the search and rescue appliance to the scene. The Hoylake hovercraft was also present.
One of the horses managed to free itself but it took three-and-a-half hours for crews to free the second horse.
Three people were also assessed by paramedics at the scene, with one taken to hospital for further assessment.
