THE owner of 26 horses, plus a newly-born foal, is in the process of complying with an order to remove them from Alton Town Council land or face losing them.

The gypsy cobs, comprising young stock, mares in foal and a stallion, had been illegally fly-grazing the Greenfield amenity area, off Northhanger Close, for two weeks when, on April 5, notices were served under the Control of Horses Act 2015, the Animals Act 1971, and the Animal Welfare Act 2006 informing the owner of the horses that he had 96 hours in which to remove his animals or they would become the responsibility of the town council and would be “re-homed, sold, or humanely destroyed”.

His time was up on Saturday and on Sunday ward councillor Allan Chick reported “a lot of activity” in the lower field as a couple of horse traders arrived and tried to round up their animals.

Alton town clerk Leah Coney has since confirmed that the owner of the horses had made contact with the town council and on Sunday removed half the herd from the Greenfields site.

The remainder are expected to be removed tomorrow.