A COUNCILLOR has called on all police officers to have basic equine training to avoid lengthy road closures as on the A127 at the weekend.

Eastwood Park Tory Chris Walker said his daughter, Lizzy Carter, was the one who eventually corralled the three horses seen running along the A127 at Rayleigh Weir on Saturday, eventually packing one them off to the Ragwood stables in Benfleet.

However, the incident led to the closure of the arterial road in both directions for about an hour, causing lengthy queues on a hot day when many visitors were driving into town to enjoy the seafront. Mr Walker said he believed the disruption could have been reduced if officers had been trained in how to deal with the horses.

He said: “My daughter, who used to groom for me at weddings, was about to take one of the children to gymnastics when they said ‘Mum, there’s a horse in the road.’ The police have no training in handling horses at all and were all frightened of them, understandably.

“My daughter charged out and got stuck in, making head collars out of dog leads, and sent it off to Ragwood stables. I’ve written to Insp Bill Potter suggesting they contact stables and have a few days of training so officers can learn how to handle horses and make a head collar with a piece of rope.

“They were trying to put things around their necks like a dog and it isn’t going to work. It’s a very simple thing to do but, if you haven’t done it before, it’s got to be the most terrifying thing ever.”

Ragwood owner Chris Lazell, 55, she supported Mr Walker’s suggestion, adding it was only fair to the officers tasked with recovering the horses.

She said: “The police have never had any training when it comes to horses, but in fairness to them they should, given how often this happens around here. Even just to be able to put a head collar on and knowing how to catch a horse would be very useful in that situation because, if the horse has escaped and is on the A127, it’s going to be pretty scared.”

Horse cut out of central reservation by firefighters

TWO specialist units were sent by Essex Fire and Rescue to the incident.

A specialist animal rescue team from South Woodham Ferrers were dispatched to the scene, along with another specialist team from Rayleigh Weir once the loose horses were reported.

A fire spokesman said: "All out firefighters are trained in these situations and assessed the situation while the police were controlling traffic.

"Two of the horses had been dealt with by a member of the public, but another was trapped in the central reservation, some of which the firefighters cut away before leading the horse to safety."

A police spokesman added: "Animals running loose on the roads can cause serious accidents and put the lives of road users at risk.

"When Essex Police is called about such incidents, officers will attend to try remove them from the road and organise for them to be taken to a place of safety.

"If the owner cannot be located, a notice will be left at the location the horses escaped from asking them to come forward and claim the animals."