Firefighters rescued a horse stuck in the River Derwent in Malton.

Dry suits used by fire crews during last year's floods enabled them to enter the chest-deep water and coax the stricken animal out.

A pump and an emergency tender from Malton fire station were called to a stretch of the river near the Talbot Hotel at 4pm yesterday.

"Fortunately, we had taken two dry suits with us which were a legacy of the floods," said sub-officer Steve Ferry.

"They are not a standard piece of kit, but it was very fortunate we had them."

After about an hour, the five-man team, with the assistance of a local vet, had pushed and pulled the horse to safety.

"It was soon racing around the fields and none the worse for its ordeal," Mr Ferry said.

Updated: 10:54 Wednesday, June 13, 2001