5 September 2010 Last updated at 07:16 ET

Distressed horse led onto M42 motorway

Part of the M42 in Worcestershire was closed when a distressed horse was led from its horse box on the hard shoulder by its owner.

The animal was injured while travelling on the motorway between junctions one and two near Barnt Green, the Highways Agency said.

Its owner led it out onto the hard shoulder and police briefly closed the north and south carriageways.

The road has reopened and tailbacks are beginning to clear.

The Highways Agency said it received a call about the horse at about 1030 BST on Sunday and the owner decided to take the animal out of the horse box.

A rolling closure was implemented on the two carriageways for about 20 minutes before the southbound carriageway was opened.

The horse could not go back into the horse box and a vet was called to check over the animal, Central Motorway Police said.