THE shire horse that bolted through York city centre, forcing frightened shoppers to jump to safety, has pulled its last carriage.

Council licensing bosses have decided it is time for Henry to retire, after taking passengers on sightseeing trips through the city’s streets for more than a decade.

Licensing manager John Lacy said today council officials and equine experts had carried out an investigation into the incident in May, in which the driver was thrown off his carriage near the Minster. He said: “Following this investigation, it was concluded by everyone, including the owner of the horse, that it would be within the best interests for Henry to retire.”

Mr Lacy said speculation that the horse might have bolted because of a loud bang, caused by a car backfiring or children popping balloons, had now been discounted.

Instead, it appeared that the harness had snapped and some of the leather britching had wrapped around the animal’s leg, causing it to panic and bolt.

He said the carriage driver, who suffered a fractured hip, was recovering at home.

The horse started charging near the Central Library in Museum Street on the afternoon of Sunday May 23, with the driver being thrown off when the carriage hit a bollard near the Minster.

The horse ran on alone down Goodramgate and then through Monk Bar and down Monkgate, with shoppers and tourists diving and fleeing for safety, before being caught by a member of the public in the Heworth area.