Police had reports of stray horses in Bradley Stoke — before people eventually claimed responsibility for the animals.
The South Gloucestershire neighbourhood policing team posted a picture of the horses on social media on Monday afternoon (June 14). It showed five horses in an area of long grass at Three Brooks Nature Reserve.
The post said: "The Bradley Stoke neighbourhood team have had reports of stray horses at Three Brooks Nature Reserve. We have been working with South Gloucestershire Council to assist in the horses welfare and to locate the owner. We thank those who have reported this to us."
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One local resident commented on the post saying he had seen the horses at 5am that day in Palmers Leaze, a residential street.
A South Gloucestershire Council spokesman said on Wednesday: “The police responded to the initial call of stray horses and notified the council as they were on council land.
“The police, council and RSPCA visited the location to attempt to catch the horses. However, within a short timeframe they had been removed by individuals who claimed responsibility for them. Consequently no further action was taken on this occasion.”
Had the owners not claimed the horses, the council would have carried out a risk assessment on the welfare of the horses and the risk they may present to road users and residents, the spokesman added.
He added "any necessary steps" would have been taken to mitigate that risk. The council would also have arranged for abandonment notices to be placed at the scene.
The Three Brooks Nature Reserve is made up of three bluebell woodlands linked by a wildlife corridor including brooks, ponds, areas of rough grassland, species-rich hedgerows and a lake.
