Dartford MP Gareth Johnson is backing a new law to control escaped horses, after Kent Police in Dartford received 400 calls about horses in two months.

In Stone, six horses were seized recently for illegal fly-grazing – that’s one for every 1,000 people.

The Control of Horses Bill should receive Royal Assent this week, giving councils greater power over horses that escape from the end of May.

Under new laws, horse owners will have to pay for costs incurred catching escaped horses within 96 hours or they could lose ownership.

Councils will have the power to seize horses in public areas, as will land owners or tenants with escaped horses on their land.

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Mr Johnson said: “We have witnessed a large increase in the number of horses that have escaped from fields around Dartford lately.

“I have had instances of local residents watching powerless as horses wander in to their gardens and cause huge amounts of damage.

“The council or police seize escaped horses and feed and water them and give them veterinary help but when the owners turn up they simply take the horses back.

“Now the owners have to pay for this cost and any damage caused.”