A string of ponies, kept in a field where a foal was left to die, have all now been re-homed after Harefield residents inundated animal welfare charities with calls.

The dead six-month-old foal was found by a horrified dog walker during an outing in the Harefield countryside in December.

Since then, outraged animal lovers have contacted the RSPCA and World Horse Welfare, and have kept an eye out on the ponies by feeding them.

A horse box was spotted removing the last of the ponies from the field on Springwell Lane, on Sunday, January 10.

The dog-walker, who spotted the dead foal, told getwestlondon : “They've all gone and it's such a lovely sight.

“I do miss seeing them but they're gone and I know that that's a good thing.”

The owners of the ponies have now signed them over to a new home, which was overseen by the RSPCA and World Horse Welfare.

The RSPCA could not confirm who the new owners are but confirmed they changed hands because the owners signed them over.

A spokesperson said: “I can confirm that the horses have been removed from the field.

“They have all been re-homed by another member of the public and the RSPCA and World Horse Welfare were in attendance when they were moved from the field.”

The dog-walker puts the new homing down to phone calls from the public.

They said: “The people of Harefield are brilliant. When something happens in the village everyone gets involved – whether they love animals or not.

“If I had land I would have done it myself, but they've gone to a good home and they will be looked after.

“I am pleased because the weather is changing, it's getting cold and they needed food.

“If the animals charities were involved you know they're going to a better home and the ponies are going to be all-right.”

Another Harefield resident, who did not want to be named, though the outcome was 'fantastic news'.

They said: “I say very well done to those caring people in Harefield, and in particular to the lady who wrote to the Uxbridge Gazette and spent money she could ill-afford on bales of hay.”

The dog-walker thinks this case is a lesson for the future, for both the public and animal charities.

They added: “It shows that people should have been aware that they weren't ok.

“Maybe people could be more vigilant in future. If you sees horses in a field that look like they're struggling, a phone call doesn't go a miss and it does make a difference.”

World Horse Welfare also confirmed their attendance when removing the ponies.

A spokesperson said: "This is a case which has been led by the RSPCA, with World Horse Welfare involved simply to provide a second opinion on the horses."