Police seize 16 stray horses in a month

Sixteen stray horses have been seized by police since officers began rounding them up off Dudley's streets almost a month ago.

Four of the animals have so far been reclaimed, with their owners having to each pay £400 in fines and livery costs.

The horses were rounded up after reports from residents and taken to a paddock outside the Black Country.

An agreement between Dudley Council and police over how to tackle the issue has been drawn up after council officers uncovered a law dating back to the mid-1800s.

It brought an end to months of uncertainty over who had responsibility for removing stray horses causing a nuisance in the borough.

Hundreds of reports of animals roaming the streets in Pensnett, Brockmoor, Kingswinford and Coseley have been logged with Dudley Council since the start of the year.