THE owner of four prize-winning shire horses had a nasty surprise when he discovered a spent rocket in their straw bedding on New Year’s Day.

The rocket is believed to have been part of a unofficial firework celebration which took place near Barry Yeates’s farm in Nupend near Stonehouse on New Year’s Eve.

Mr Yeates, who raised many of the horses from foals, told the SNJ that the fireworks had been let off way after midnight, after his family had gone to bed.

“We were all in bed because no one had told us that the display was happening, if we’d known about it then we would have stayed up with the animals to make sure they were ok,” he said.

“If the straw had caught fire it would have been devastating for both the horses and our herd of cows.”

The stable mates have won many awards as stunning examples of the breed, recently Mr Tumble, the horse whose bed the spent firework was discovered in, secured second in class at the annual National Shire Horse Show for his traditional harness.

An adjacent building on the property is also home to dozens of suckler cows and their calves.

A statement from the National Farmers Union warned members of the public about the dangers of holding firework displays near farms and live stock: "Farmers care deeply about the welfare of their animals, and are rightly concerned about anything that could jeopardise their wellbeing.

“Fireworks can pose a fire risk if hot embers land on barns or in fields of standing crops.”

“While the NFU does not have a position on when it is appropriate for fireworks to be let off we would call on everyone using fireworks to consider the safety and wellbeing of their neighbours and neighbours animals.

“It is important to let farmers know beforehand that you are planning on letting off fireworks so they can take necessary precautions to protect their animals.”

Last November the SNJ reported on another firework related tragedy when an 11-month-old farm dog was hit by a car on the M5 after fleeing in fright when loud fireworks went off near Stonehouse on Bonfire night.

Members of the public are reminded that the Animal Welfare Act 2006 states that: “It is an offence to cause unnecessary suffering to any captive or domestic animal and that fireworks must not be set off near livestock and horses in fields, or close to buildings that house livestock.”

To do so is an offence which carries a fine of up to £20,000 and/or a prison term of up to six months.