HORSE-mad Anne-Marie Murphy is riding on a high at the moment - she has had one of her four legged friends named in her honour.

Anne-Marie, who is both physically and mentally handicapped, has visited Lancashire Police's Mounted Branch headquarters in Lindle Lane, Hutton, on a regular basis since 1973, along with her mother Joan.

Now after plying the force's horses with mints for nearly 16 years, the constabulary has decided to name their latest recruit after her.

Murphy, a six-year-old bay which stands at 16 hands and two inches high, is still undergoing training with PC Brendan Mulligan. He will eventually join the rest of the mounted branch on patrol around the county and attend special events such as football matches.

Murphy will also be used on the beat in various parts of the county as part of a squad of 24 horses.

Inspector Andy Maughan, of Mounted Branch, said: "I have known Joan and Anne-Marie since I joined the Mounted Branch 16 years ago.

"Over the years they have both become great friends to everyone here.

"They have a special bond with the horses and usually arrive at feeding time with the pockets full of mints."

The suggestion to name a horse after the Murphy family came from Penwortham councillor Howard Gore.

He said: "It is a magnificent tribute to two very special people.

"It is wonderful the the Mounted Branch, with who the Murphy's have become so very close, have decided to name a horse after them."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.