Vets could be called in to sedate horses found roaming in Tipton in a bid to clear them from the streets.

Councillors have been cracking down on the problem of stray horses but bailiffs are struggling to catch them. Sandwell Council safety boss Councillor Derek Rowley today said the aim in the new year is to get a grip on the problem.

He said there have been more reports of roaming horses in the Coneygree Road area.

He said: “We are getting a number of sightings, but it is often difficult for us to catch and secure them.

“We are hoping to talk to the staff and vets at Dudley Zoo, and try and find a way to sedate the horses in order for us to remove them from the roads. We hope they will be able to help us.”

He added: “The loose horses are dangerous. If they get onto the Birmingham New Road, it will be very bad news. If we can sedate them, we can safely remove them without causing a danger to the public.”

Councillor Rowley said currently bailiffs are called in when the horses are sighted. The animals are tethered and then led to a horse box. Council officers have also tried erecting temporary fencing around the horses to help the bailiffs secure the animals.

Councillor Rowley added: “These horses however get excited and are more wild than other horses so it is often difficult to tether them, as they run off.”

He said he hopes by herding the horses into open space and then sedating them using a dart, they can be removed safely. The council will consult with vets.

Since April this year police have been rounding up stray horses in Pensnett and Brierley Hill areas following a new agreement with Dudley Council.

Dudley Zoo said it could not help but advised the council to consult with equestrian veterinary surgeons on sedation.