HORSE owners on the Waterside are on their guard after a number of ponies were attacked and chased by youngsters wielding baseball bats.

Julie Brown from Fawley was alerted to the plight of her ponies, and another owned by a friend, after they were terrorised in their field in Blackfield Road on the evening of Wednesday, October 16.

She said a woman who lives opposide the field was walking her dogs with a friend when she realised what was going on.

Julie said: "Three young lads were hitting the ponies' legs with the baseball bats and banging the ground next to them, then chasing the ponies, causing them to gallop in a wild panic around the field.

"The ponies ran flat out towards the fence and it's a wonder they weren't hurt.

"The woman chased the boys off and called the police, who have spoken to two of the boys."

The traumatised ponies have suffered no lasting ill effects.

Julie has heard reports of similar attacks in the area.