TWO horses had to be shot after being in collision with a car in an accident their owner said should never have happened.

The collision occurred near the Bell Inn at Tillington on Tuesday evening, throwing riders Sally Williams and her daughter Ann Gharad from the saddles.

They escaped unhurt but the injuries suffered by six-year-old Buddy and seven-year-old Molly put them beyond hope of recovery.

Mrs Williams said that villagers have been appealing to Herefordshire Council for a footpath that could have prevented this incident.

She said it is too late for her horses now, but she hopes that some good could come out of the distressing accident. If the car had hit children they would have been killed too, she stressed.

"It is the same route used by parents picking up their children from Burghill School, who are doing just what John Prescott wants them to do."