Parents are taking action after their child was injured by a horse in a Wickford road.

They claim a child could be more seriously injured unless something is done about horses left loosely tethered around Wickford.

The warning came after a youngster was rushed to hospital with a suspected broken arm after she was attacked by the animal.

Parent Gary Baker is now seeking compensation from Basildon Council, claiming the authority should have done more to stop the horse being tethered on the roadside.

Horses are being tied to posts along Radwinter Avenue, but Mr Baker claims they have been known to escape free from the ties.

Radwinter Avenue has suffered for the last four years with horses roaming free.

One was killed by a car last year after breaking free and another damaged nearby homes.

In the latest incident Mr Baker's eight-year-old daughter Samantha was kicked while feeding the horse. She suffered bad bruising.

With the school summer holidays set to begin, concerned parent Gary Baker, 37, believes the horses should be kept away from the street before another child is injured.

He said: "If you leave them on their own they are fine but I am concerned we are coming to the summer holidays and children naturally want to stroke the horses.

"I do not believe leaving horses on a piece of land near a busy dual carriageway is good enough.

"Basildon Council should take action to remove them or come to an agreement with the owners to move them to a safer place."

Council chiefs said a sign would be put up following the complaint.

A spokesman said:"We are going to put up a notice requiring the owners to remove the horses. We will consider any claim made against the council when it is received."

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