RSPCA officers have been given specialist equine training at a horse sanctuary near Long Stratton.

Nine RSPCA inspectors and two animal collection officers from across the eastern region spent two days at Redwings Horse Sanctuary's headquarters at Hapton to learn how to deal with a rising number of inquiries about equine welfare.

They attended classes and workshops on issues ranging from horse handling, recognising basic signs of good health and emergency equine first aid. The courses were led by Redwings welfare vets Roxane Kirton and Nicola Berryman, and senior field officer Julie Harding.

RSPCA spokesman Nicola Walker said: 'We are getting more and more calls about equine welfare so it is invaluable for our inspectors to work with other organisations like Redwings to make sure they are dealing with these concerns in the best possible way.'