A 164-YEAR-OLD law unearthed by police could help reign in the problem of stray horses roaming the borough.

The issue has left residents in Pensnett, Brockmoor, Dudley, Kingswinford and Wordsley at the end of their tether over recent months.

Both West Midlands Police and Dudley Council have blamed the continuing problem on lack of powers to tackle it - but law-enforcement and council officers have now finally reached an agreement which will see roaming horses impounded if they stray onto borough streets.

Section 24 of the Town and Police Clauses Act 1847 states officers are permitted to seize cattle (including horses) found on the highway.

So police have now launched a trial initiative to impound animals found to be insecure and causing a danger on the roads throughout Dudley - rather than just leading them onto common land.

The owner will then have three days to claim the horse, by providing proof of ownership, and settle any outstanding fines. If not claimed, the animals will be sold onto new owners.

Chief Inspector Mark Bramwell, from Dudley Police, said: “This new agreement means we can actually take positive action and possibly move the horses for good, should they cause a problem.

"The issue has always been identifying owners for these animals, however the new arrangement will give the owner the option to come forward and deal with the issue."

John Millar, Dudley Council’s director of urban environment, said: "We have worked closely with colleagues from the police and others in recent months and hope the new joint initiative will improve the situation.”

The new agreement comes just weeks after nearly 250 people added their names to a petition launched on gopetition.com Four horses have already been seized after straying onto the highway on Fulbrook Road, Russells Hall, Dudley, on April 18.

The horses are described as a tri-coloured colt, aged around three, a strawberry roan colt, aged around six months with a growth on its neck, one blue roan / grey colt, around six months old, and a tri-coloured colt, also around six months old. None were microchipped and the owners have not yet come forward.

Anyone wishing to claim the animals should contact Dudley Police on 0345 113 5000 before Thursday April 28 - quoting log number 899 of April 18.

Future notices will be made on the Dudley Police website www.dudleypolice.org.uk under the Local News section.