Residents' anger over Environment Agency advice to leave dead horse in Northampton river to decompose

A solution is yet to be found over what to do with a dead horse in Northampton's River Nene that a Government agency has advised just to let decompose.

Hundreds of readers have shared their distress after the Chronicle & Echo reported on Thursday how the body of a pony is floating near to the Clifford Hill Lock, close to Billing Aquadrome.

But residents have also responded angrily to the official response by the Environment Agency that they plan not to do anything about it and are advising to let it rot.

"This is actually disgusting," wrote one reader, Emma Bradshaw. "The smell alone will make normal living nearby abhorrent. If it was a dog somebody would've had it out by now and the owner charged.

"This poor horse clearly suffered and literally nothing is being done about it. Absolutely disgraceful response."

The Chron provided the Government agency with the exact location of the horse, which is caught on a weir behind a line of floats close to Billing Aquadrome.

The agency's reply was that it was responsibility of the owner, whoever that is.

A spokesperson said: "We would only remove the horse if it was causing an obstruction which could pose as a flood risk – this is not the case.

"The horse will naturally decompose without causing pollution in the river."

"Great decision that," said reader Barb Shepherd. "Many years ago, my dogs swam in the Nene between Rushden and Irthlingborough. All three became ill, one died. It turned out there was a dead and decomposing horse in the river in that section. None of the authorities would take responsibility for removing it."

Since receiving the Environment Agency's response, the Chron has approached several agencies, charities and organisations to ask if they are able to remove it, including the Canal and River Trust, the RSPCA and the borough council. Each has reported the situation is outside of their remit and that it lies entirely with the Environment Agency.

"That’s horrific end to an animal," said Chron reader Chris Williams. "As to just leaving it is even worse so distressing for children seeing it. Obviously owner doesn’t care or it wouldn’t have got there in the first place."