A pony in an emaciated state, which it is believed was let loose on Bodmin Moor, had to be put down on Monday.

It is thought that the animal, along with two other ponies, were all left on the moor to fend for themselves.

Horse owner Kate Williams first noticed the three ponies, one of which seemed very thin, on Saturday.

'Before I went out on Monday morning I noticed the pony, a mare, was not looking too good,' said Kate.

'I later received a call from my dad, who said the mare "had gone down" and we would have to do something.

'I rushed home and went to the mare, now in a very poor condition. It was raining and very cold and I covered her with blankets.

'I called the police who said they were only responsible when an animal had been involved in a road traffic accident, and unfortunately an animal welfare charity I support, and the RSPCA, had no operatives in the area at the time.'

Kate said she then called the Commoners' Association and explained how ill the mare was. 'They were fantastic,' she said. 'A representative came, arranged for the mare to be humanely euthanised and organised her removal.'

Kate said she feels very angry with the owners. 'These poor little animals are owned by someone who may have no longer been able to care for them. But instead of doing the right thing and finding them other homes or contacting an animal charity to take them, they just turned them out in the winter onto the moors to fend for themselves. Other people had to deal with a very upsetting situation.'

Kate's father, Barry Matthews of Crows Nest, said: 'Quite evidently these sort of ponies are not designed for the rough terrain and climate of the moors. They were left distressed in an unknown place where somebody else had to take responsibility for the actions of the owners.'

Kate said the Commoners' Association is currently putting plans in place, and working with vets, to address the welfare needs of some of the ponies, which may need to be taken off the moor.