Horse called William needed the London Fire Brigade to fish him out after getting trapped in disused swimming pool. Image: @LondonFire

Fire crews have rescued a horse called William trapped in a swimming pool on Cudham Lane South, Cudham near Sevenoaks and used a JCB to help lift him out.

William fell into the disused swimming pool and was unable to climb out yesterday morning.

The Brigade was called by his owners who found him in a distressed condition.

Station Manager Andy Roberts who helped to rescue the horse said:

It was a difficult rescue owing to the frailty of the horse and the depth of the water, but fortunately William was found in the shallow end.

Crews kept his nose out of the water until a vet arrived and sedated him.

Fire crews worked hard for several hours preparing to lift him out.

They used a portable water pump to drain water out of the pool and put slings and straps around William so he could be lifted out safely.

His owner used a JCB to hoist William out of the pool and on to dry land.

He is now on his feet and recovering in a nearby field, with only a few cuts and bruises to show for his ordeal.

The Brigade was called at 11.33 and the horse was out of the water by 2.53 in the afternoon.

Fire crews from Bromley attended with specialist animal rescue equipment.