A man and a horse spent more two hours stuck in a river, prompting a rescue requiring firefighters from four different stations.

Firefighters were alerted at around 10.30am Friday morning, after the horse got its front leg stuck in muddy waters on the bank of the River Waveney, on Old Harleston Road in Earsham.

Engines from four fire stations - Harleston, Thetford, Bungay and Lowestoft - were despatched the scene, in a rescue which took more than two hours to complete, due to the fact firefighters were required to be cautious not to harm the animal.

The horse was reported to be in a critical condition during the rescue and had to be sedated by a vet while firefighters battled to free it from the mud.

The horse was released from its predicament by just before 1pm, with firefighters leaving the scene at 12.56pm.

A spokesman from Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service could not provide an update on the horse's current condition.