POLICE had to be called in after wild ponies got loose and trampled their way through a famous garden’s newest attraction, opened less than a year ago by the Duchess of Cornwall.

Officers and staff at Sir Harold Hillier Gardens, at Ampfield, near Romsey, spent two-and-a-half hours trying to round up the animals that had escaped from a field.

Staff described how the ponies had charged through, leaving flowers and lawns destroyed, causing “significant” damage to the ground and plants, particularly to the gardens’ centenary border.

The animals went across the redesigned and replanted border, which was opened by Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, last July as part of her visit to celebrate Hilliers’ 60th anniversary.

Five years in the planning, staff and around 100 volunteers worked on the 250-metre project for more than two years. It is the longest double border in the country, with more than 30,000 plants.

Carla Thomas-Buffin, head of education, said paving slabs, turf and plants had all been damaged. The winter garden, opened by the Queen, also suffered under the ponies’ hooves.

Police were first alerted when the animals were in Jermyns Lane, but by the time officers arrived they had got into the gardens.

Three police officers from Romsey, along with ten Hilliers staff and the pony owner, joined in the chase watched by bemused visitors.

They managed to catch two with a bridle while the others got into a field within the grounds and were shut in.

No animals or people were harmed in the incident at about 11am yesterday.

Mrs Thomas-Buffin said the animals charged through the gardens on already soft ground.

She said she there had been a similar incident last week involving one pony that escaped and ended up in the gardens.

Mrs Thomas-Buffin said staff had warned visitors, who included children at a craft session, and ensured the ponies were kept away from them.

She added: “Staff have worked so hard to make sure it looks good, so to have a herd of horses run through is soul-destroying.”

Police said they would be speaking to the ponies’ owner today.