Amber the horse rescued by firemen after being found submerged in a ditch

Four fire crews, with the help of a building contractors digger, rescued the horse after being called out to the incident on Fleetwood Road, near Thorton-Cleveleys.

After arriving at the scene at around 10.50am this morning (Saturday, March 11), Fleetwood Fire Station's watch manager Alistair Mclean said they found "20-year-old horse Amber" deep in water.

He said: "The large horse was quite far in and couldn't rescue itself.

"We asked some contractors working on the road if they would assist us with their digger which we used to dig out the banking to make a ramp.

"After two hours using a technique called a forward assist, which means putting straps under the horse, we safely pulled the horse up the ditch and on to the flat land."

The two Fleetwood crews were assisted by St Annes and Bamber Bridge fire stations as well as a local vet.

Watch manager Mclean said: "The horse didn't seem to have any physical injuries but it needed a good wash and warmed up.

"We're not sure how long it was in the ditch but it could have been all night.

"This was definitely a good result and although the vet will give Amber a good examine, we're hopeful she come out of this unscathed."