MUDDY marvels rescued a struggling pony from an horrific death.

Four year-old Minstrel was stuck firm and sinking fast in a muddy quagmire off Schofield Lane, Atherton.

But willing hands and the expertise of Atherton fire-fighters saved Minstrel from a grim fate.

"All you could see was the pony's ears and its nose," said farmer Brenda Pendlebury of Hindley's Farm.

Brenda then explained how her 19 years-old son Stuart and Joseph Keane, of Mosley Common, waded into the goo to loop fire hoses around the stricken horse.

"Firemen said Stuart was a real hero," she proudly told The Journal.

Before the fire-fighters arrived rescuers had tried to haul Minstrel free using tractor power but had to abandon that idea for fear of injuring the pony.

Atherton Fire Station sub officer Shaun O'Donnell explained: " It was a real community effort. The pony was covered in mud and had sunk up to its neck

"It looked as though we might have a real struggle to get it out. A lot of people helped pull and fortunately freed the pony. It lay on the ground for a couple of minutes then got up and ran off."

And after a good wash, unrecognisable Minstrel's muddy yellow colouring disappeared to reveal his black and white coat.

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