A hunt saboteur who came to the rescue of a huntswoman and her stranded mount today said he did it for the animal.

Mounted on bikes he and a group of saboteurs were following members of the East Essex Hunt and Essex & Suffolk Hunt when the horse became trapped, straddled across a bridge near Layer Breton.

The saboteur, who did not wish to be named, said: "The horse comes first in a situation like this, it is another living animal."

He said: "As we came over the hill we could see three riders on the footpath. One lady was dismounted and screaming hysterically.

"When she saw us she screamed for us to come and help. The rest of the hunt had gone on and the other two riders were trying to comfort her."

When the saboteur got closer he could see that the horse was very distressed: "It was having panic attacks every few minutes and was thrashing its legs about. It was bleeding quite profusely."

He used his mobile phone to call the fire brigade and the hunt's Rivenhall vet.

Once the horse had been sedated the Colchester fire crew was able to disassemble the bridge and free the horse.

"Once the horse was safely under the care of the vet the lady did come over and thank us," he said.

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