A five-year-old boy has undergone life-saving surgery after being kicked in the head by a horse which was illegally tethered near a children’s play area in Bradford.

Harlie Thompson needed a three hour operation to stop part of his fractured skull piercing his brain after he was kicked when the horse reared up at Buttershaw Beck.

His mum, Laura Thompson, 23, of Mandale Grove, Buttershaw, was told there was only a 20 per cent chance her son would survive the procedure which was carried out at Leeds General Infirmary after her son was injured on Sunday.

But Harlie defied the odds and was even allowed home last night to continue his recovery.

Miss Thompson said she wants the owner of the horse to be traced and prosecuted.

Bradford Council, which is working with the police to track down the owner, has condemned “reckless owners” who illegally tether horses on public land.

Miss Thompson, a mum-of-three, said: “It was terrifying, I honestly thought Harlie was dead. It’s disgusting someone could leave a horse in a children’s play area. My son could have been killed.”

The horse was startled after Harlie – a pupil at Holme Farm Primary School – and friend Lee Kirwan, seven, went to retrieve a football.

Miss Thompson said: “The horse went up on its back legs and kicked the back of Harlie’s head.

“Harlie was lying face down on the ground and started fitting so I rushed over to pick him up to move him away from the horse. I was in such a panic, I couldn’t believe what was happening.”

The boy was taken by ambulance to Bradford Royal Infirmary but was transferred to LGI for surgery to lift part of his fractured skull away from his brain. Surgeons drilled a hole in his head to relieve pressure from his brain.

Miss Thompson said: “I was told not to expect him to come out of it and if he did he could be paralysed – that he might not be able to walk, talk or feed himself again. Thankfully he seems to be making a good recovery so far, but he may need to have a metal plate inserted in his head.

“I’m sure whoever’s horse this is knows this has happened and I want them to know the damage it’s done.”

Harlie’s friend, Lee, was also kicked by the horse and suffered a minor eye injury.

Ian Bairstow, Bradford Council’s director for environment and sport, said: “We are deeply upset by the awful incident that led to two children being injured by an illegally-tethered horse and we wish them a speedy recovery.

“We will work with the police to track down and take all necessary legal action to enable prosecution of the owners of the horse and we urge anyone with any information about the incident to contact the police.

“The Council condemns the complete disregard for the law and for others’ safety that these reckless owners who tether their horses on public land display.”

Police have appealed for witnesses to Sunday’s incident to contact them on 101. The Council has also urged anyone who sees a horse on public land to contact it on (01274) 431000.