Firefighters battle currents to rescue stranded pony in Leatherhead

A fire crew and the owners of a racehorse rehabilitation centre managed to save 25 horses after the River Mole burst its banks in Leatherhead.

Natasha Bell, 40, whose sister-in-law Andrea Norbury runs Thorncroft Stables in Thorncroft Drive, said they feared that the strawberry roan Welsh pony would drown.

The 22-year-old pony, called Rosebud but known as Bud Bud, went under the water four or five times but firefighters in a boat came to her rescue.

Ms Bell said: "Bud Bud was stranded and the fire crew couldn’t get near her because of the current through the field. Three of them tied themselves together and went out to save her.

"We were all calling her. Bless her heart, she jumped into the ditch and swam to the firemen. They managed to get a rope around her neck and bring her back."

The fence was broken down to release Bud Bud and the other horses, who had managed to get to higher ground in the field.

Earlier in the morning the flood water went over Ms Norbury’s boots as she went to rescue nine horses from their stables. Half an hour later the water was chest-deep in the yard.

Ms Bell said: "It was one of the worst days of my life. We had 25 horses that needed rescuing. It was horrific. Just an awful day.

"We just wanted to say thank you to the firefighters because they were absolutely amazing. Everyone came together and helped rescue them."

Andrea Norbury and Natasha Bell at a field this afternoon

Salvage work is now underway after the flooding destroyed everything from horse feed and grooming kits to a sofa and freezer.

She said: "Everything is ruined. It’s all been washed away. It’s all a bit devastating. My sister-in-law and brother have put in so many years hard work into the stables."

Andrea Norbury holds a cat which survived the flooding at Thorncroft Stables in Leatherhead