A Black Country mother whose horses were impounded by a bailiff fears she may have to stump up more than £1,000 to get her animals back.

Debbie Heaven, aged 42, from Withymoor, accepted the horses were temporarily left on council land but said they were well-looked after and popular with local residents.

The two animals had been tied up on grassland in Thornton Drive, backing on to Mrs Heaven’s son Chad’s home in Gayfield Avenue.

Mrs Heaven said: “They could have just knocked the door and asked us to move them and we would have done it.”

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A Black Country mother whose horses were impounded by a bailiff fears she may have to stump up more than £1,000 to get her animals back.

Debbie Heaven, aged 42, from Withymoor, accepted the horses were temporarily left on council land but said they were well-looked after and popular with local residents.

The two animals had been tied up on grassland in Thornton Drive, backing on to Mrs Heaven’s son Chad’s home in Gayfield Avenue.

Mrs Heaven said: “They could have just knocked the door and asked us to move them and we would have done it.”

“Everyone who lives around here know whose horses they are and how well we look after them. It’s not like they had been left there day and night for ages, and we took them to Prestwood Horse Show on Sunday.

“We tied them up at around midnight and they were gone when we got back at eight the next morning, when we just found a notice and a claim form to send off to this company.

“It doesn’t have any contact numbers and no information about where the horses are.

“We have heard it costs more than £1,000 to get them back, which is way over the top, and we’ve also been told it could be weeks.

“If we could just speak to someone at least we would know what we have to do. My three-year-old granddaughter loves the horse and is really upset about it.

“The council have contracted this out, so they should at least know what the company actually does.”

Mrs Heaven also questioned Tory candidate Pat Martin’s motives in highlighting the issue as, she pointed out, the local elections are being held next week.

Council spokesman Phil Parker said: “This matter has been put in the hands of an outside contractor that operates for the police and the government on a national basis. They will manage this matter in its entirety.”

Council candidate Pat Martin insisted she was reacting to concerns from residents in her ward.

“Had this not been highlighted by residents then I wouldn’t have known about it,” she said. “If you came across a horse at night you’d get quite a shock. It’s totally irresponsible.”