FIREFIGHTERS from west Cumbria spent two hours rescuing a stranded horse in the Egremont area.
Equipped with specialist rescue gear, crews from Whitehaven, Egremont, Frizington and Workington were called out after the 18-hands high horse collapsed in a stable and was unable to get up again.
The alarm was raised at 11am today.
They initially raised the horse using air bags - part of the crews' large animal rescue kit.
It also includes hoists.
"The crews were there for about two hours," said a spokesman the fire service.
The horse was uninjured.
Firefighters are given specialist training in large animal rescue techniques.
"It's a surprisingly regular occurrence," added the spokesman.