Eight Dartmoor foals rescued from "certain death" at the last minute are now looking for urgent help to find new happy lives.

Bolenowe Animal Sanctuary at The Lizard stepped in to save the ponies from being shot after being alerted by another horse charity.

A Bolenowe spokesperson said: "We had a message that five young Dartmoor foals had been removed from the moor and parted from the mares in the annual drift and that they were due to be shot unless someone was found to take them.

“We couldn’t let that happen, so agreed to take them - but when the trailers arrived at our sanctuary we were shocked to find out that there weren't just five, but eight."

Seven of the foals turned out to be boys, which meant an extra cost in vets’ fees for gelding, plus the normal micro-chipping, vaccinations, passporting, feed and care costs.

Falmouth Packet:

"They are all absolutely beautiful and we are all very glad that they are now safe with us but it obviously means far greater expense than we had expected.

"We have since discovered that the oldest pony is only five months old and the others are far younger. Foals normally stay with their mothers for at least six months, but sadly, this seems to happen every year on the moor.

“So all in all, the little ponies desperately need help from the public. As a small, remotely-based charity we really do need all the support we can get," added the spokesperson.

All the foals - named Pumpkin, Casper, Hoggle, Trixie, Treat, Punch, Bobby and Booare - are currently in quarantine for precautionary health reasons, but have settled in and are described as "doing very well," so will be eventually available to go out to suitable homes on Bolenowe’s lifetime loan scheme.

Anyone who can help either by rehoming a pony or donating towards their keep is asked to email admin@bolenowe.co.uk, call 01326 291272, contact the charity on Facebook or write to Bolenowe Animal Sanctuary, Ruan Minor, Helston, TR12 7NA.