A DISTRESSED horse suffered a broken leg and hypothermia after falling into a canal.

Firefighters rescued the injured animal from the Bridgewater Canal, off Warrington Road, near Manor Park in Runcorn, shortly after midday on Sunday.

Watch manager Sean Henshaw, said: "They managed to get the horse out of a ditch but it had a broken leg.

"A vet came after firefighters left."

It is understood the horse belonged to travellers, staying nearby.