Firefighters from Cleckheaton station rescued a horse from a hole after it had been trapped for more than 24 hours.

Crews were initially called to the scene at about 5pm on Monday. The animal had fallen into an unused underground reservoir through a three foot square opening that had been covered with wooden planks.

A spokesman from Cleckheaton fire station said the horse, which had been stranded eight feet down, was led to safety via a dug trench on Tuesday at about 9.30pm.

A local farmer removed about 80 tons of earth so the firefighters could break through a reinforced, 100-year-old concrete wall to the hole. The horse, which had a few minor cuts and bruises, was OK following the drama in Linthwaite, near Huddersfield, said firefighters.