TWO horses have died after they became spooked and waded out of their depth at a river crossing.

The animals had been towing a carriage at the time with one man sat aboard as they made their way into the ford at New Mill Lane, Finchampstead.

The driver of the coach was able to escape to safety unharmed but both creatures drowned after bolting away from the shallower part of the crossing.

Four fire crews were in attendance at the scene but the horses were declared dead by the time the first firefighters from Wokingham station arrived at around 10am this morning.

Crew manager Charlie Bell of Caversham Road fire station said: "Two horses with a half tonne carriage had left the ford track and gone upstream to a deeper area next to a weir.

"Unfortunately both horses had perished at that point and were effectively submerged."

The animals had previously made the crossing without incident earlier in the day but Mr Bell said on their return journey something went wrong.

He added: "They had already been through once but something spooked them and that made them do what they naturally do which is bolt and unfortunately that took them towards danger.

"There was a gentleman in the carriage but he managed to get out of the water safely and in time."

A total of six firefighters in water rescue gear and the service's heavy rescue unit were deployed into the water to retrieve the animals and the carriage.

After around three hours work bodies were passed on to the relevant authorities.

Crews said the horses' owners were at the scene and visibly distressed.