FIREFIGHTERS battled for more than two hours to get a pony out of a stream.

Loulou the trotting mare got stuck in the water at Fletchwood Lane in Totton on Thursday night.

Crews from five fire stations were called but firefighters from Winchester managed to get her out of the stream at around 7pm.

The pony's former owner, Julie Snook said: "I just got a call from my ex partner to say she was stuck in a stream. His daughter struggled for a very long time to get her out. The water was very cold. It took a very long time and it was all in the dark."

She added that her ex partner Danny Cooper and his daughter "risked serious injury in attempting to free the horse" - which is "lucky to be alive this morning thanks to the efforts of Tracey and Danny Cooper and the fire brigade."

Crews from Hardley, Lyndhurst and Winchester were called to the incident but firefighters from Winchester eventually managed to free the four year old coloured horse.

A Hampshire fire spokesperson said crews from five stations were called and added: "It depends how lively the animal is. It will need watching - and the right vehicles, if certain firefighters are trained for certain pieces of machinery.

"Most of the appliances were sent back. Winchester has the right vehicle as well as a tactical advisor. There were 10-12 firefighters in all at the scene.

"We got the call at 16.40."

A spokesperson for Winchester fire station added: "It was tired and cold and it was a steep bank - she couldn't get out. We got it out on some sliders - it's like a big plastic sheet."