Stray horses that have been causing havoc in the Black Country have cropped up on playing fields nine miles away – prompting a football match to be cancelled.

Piles of manure and hoof prints are the tell-tale signs on grass verges and streets in Moxley, where a group of up to six horses have been going on late-night walkabouts.

It meant the Moxley Rangers Football Club Under-15s match at the playing fields had to be cancelled by the referee on safety grounds on Sunday due to the holes left by the hooves.

Residents in Charnwood Close and neighbouring streets have been waking up to find their gardens and roads littered with dung.

The group of horses were yesterday grazing on the football pitches at Great Bridge Road playing fields.

Clare Adams, aged 37, of Charnwood Close said: “I’m very worried about the safety of these horses.

“They’ve been coming down here for about three weeks. They’re not tied up or anything. We first saw them about two weeks ago.

“We’ve phoned the police and the RSPCA, but there didn’t seem to be much anyone could do about it.

“A couple of nights ago we were woken up by one of the mares who seemed to have lost sight of her foal in the dark and she was galloping up and down the street, looking for it and making screeching noises.

“They have been seen all round here in Burns Road, Queen Street and in the gardens here and in Curtin Drive. I’m really worried about them being hit by a car or the lorries that come down Bull Lane.”

Moxley Rangers club secretary Jayne Kingdon said: “The lads were a bit miffed because they couldn’t play and there is a lot of mess on the field as well. We’re hoping it will be sorted out in time for the next home game in two weeks’ time.”

Darlaston South ward representative Chris Bott said street cleansing staff visited the estate last week to clean up and would be called out again.

Walsall Council has also pegged a notice at the playing fields under the Animal Act 1971 to warn the owner the horses may be sold if they are not removed.