A TEARFUL horse owner has issued her heartfelt thanks to the dozen firefighters who came to the rescue of her 29-year-old "gentle giant" after he fell into a ditch.

Katie Turner, 23, fell in love with horse riding after she received thoroughbred cross Murphy on loan from a family friend eight years ago.

Now in his twilight years, Murphy lives at a livery yard in Feering, where he is free to wander several fields and walkways around the village.

But disaster struck last Tuesday when the owner of the yard discovered the elderly horse had fallen into a ditch.

It soon became apparent help would be needed to rescue the 6ft beast.

Social worker Katie, who lives in Braintree, said: "The yard owner lives on site, he called my friend and she got there before me.

"She knows Murphy really well, so I said if you think you need the fire brigade for this then call them. "I have had him for about eight years, I originally had him on loan when I was 16.

"A friend of my mum's looking for someone to ride a horse for a couple of days a week, over time I started to ride more and more and his owner gave up horses and just gave him to me.

"He lives the high life, getting to walk around lots of walkways in the area.

"On this occasion I think he had been on a walkway he hadn't been on before, was stood up one moment and the next was lying down - I don't know whether he's just fallen backwards or something."

Essex Fire Service sent crews from Colchester, Chelmsford and Great Baddow at around 8.15am.

Murphy was free by 9.45am.

"They waited until his vet was there, so he could oversee the rescue and give him gentle sedation," said Katie.

"They put straps around him, pulled him onto two plastic boards - there were 12 of them all pulling together.

"They pulled him into the field, a more open space not around fences or anything dangerous, to give him a couple of minutes as he doesn't always get up easily.

"They had straps around him to help him up."

Katie was delighted to see her old friend was unharmed.

Before long he was happily grazing as if nothing had happened.

"I would firstly want to apologise to the firefighters for crying so much, every time someone tried to speak to me I just cried," said Katie.

"And secondly a huge thank you, straight away within minutes they knew what to do.

"Three fire engines and a fire and rescue truck were quickly there, they came over, spoke to me, and talked me through step-by-step what they were going to do.

"They had a plan."

Oblivious to all the fuss that had been made, Murphy is looking forward to his 30th birthday in less than two weeks.

The landmark occasion will be celebrated with a socially-distanced party, with balloons and treats.

Katie said: "Murphy is a proper softy.

"He loves having his face scratched and he's just a big gentle giant really."