NEW laws to tackle the 'fly-grazing' of horses on grassland without permission have been welcomed in East Lancashire., The Briercliffe-based Horses and Ponies Protection Association (HAPPA) said the new legislation, due to get Royal Assent before the May 7 General Election, was 'a huge step forward'.

Tony Bork of Bacup's 'Animal Quackers' petting zoo said the move would help tackle and growing problem.

Blackburn with Darwen regeneration and highways boss Maureen Bateson also welcomed the new powers and said there had been problems with fly-grazing in the Ewood ward she is fighting to retain for Labour in the local council elections, also on May 7.

The Control of Horses Bill aims to deter and help to swiftly resolve cases of ‘fly-grazing’, placing horses on private and public land without permission.

It was a Private Members’ Bill tabled by Julian Sturdy MP for York Outer and makes changes to the Animals Act 1971 The updated law will require landowners to keep any horses placed on their land for only four working days, as opposed to the current two weeks.

It will allow more options to dispose of the horses besides public sale, such as gifting them to a charity, selling them privately or humane euthanasia.

Coun Bateson said: "We have had problems with horses being tethered on private and council land in Ewood in the past, not always by travellers.

"In one case they were just by a main road and a danger to themselves and the traffic., "These powers will help deal with this problem."

A spokeswoman for HAPPA said: "This is a huge step forward but need more done on ownership and microchipping.

"Last year we had two horses fly-grazed in Lancashire which we had to rehome.

"They were young animals, close to a busy road and in danger of injury or death.

"We welcome this update of the law."

Mr Bork said: "This is good news. There is a problem with abandoned horses and it is growing."

World Horse Welfare chief executive Roly Owers said:“This law will make a big difference to horse welfare as it will make action to remove horses much more swift, straightforward and less expensive to take. "

Local Government Association spokeswoman Ann Lucas: “Illegally tethered horses are a real problem for both urban and rural local authorities."