WORKERS from a horse rescue charity are fuming after a farmer illegally moved his horses on to their land, stopping them from using it.

The Essex Horse and Pony Protection Society leased a field off Basildon Council for a peppercorn rent to allow its horses to graze through the winter months.

The land, off Pitsea Hall Lane, was to be used to graze 30 of the charity’s horses and ponies, which have been rescued from cruel owners.

However, when they began walking the animals to the site yesterday, workers found 16 other horses already munching on the much-needed grass.

The horses belong to Jimmy Harbour, from Bowers Gifford, who told the Echo he was a farmer.

Sue Allery, from the horse sanctuary, also based in Pitsea Hall Lane, said: “Our head groom, Laura Jardine, was gobsmacked as she approached the site to see a horse box pulling away driven by a local man who is well known to us. He dumped his horses on to our winter grazing land.

“A pile of rubbish appeared at the very same time, which wasn’t there last week, as we had spent ages clearing the area.”

The sanctuary, which relies on fundraising to survive, had pleaded with Basildon Council for help in feeding its animals during the winter.

It has to move its horses off its land in the winter to allow it to recover.

Sue added: “Basildon councillor Phil Turner came up trumps when we asked for his help in securing some vital winter grazing for our additional animals.

“The team at Wat Tyler Country Park have also been very supportive in helping us to get the site ready and safe for us to turn our horses out on.”

Mr Turner was emphatic Mr Harbour would have to go.

He stressed: “One way or another, Mr Harbour is going. We’ve given him the option to go quietly, but if he doesn’t we will enforce this. He is trespassing on council land.

“We are doing everything we can to support the charity and the tremendous work it does.”

The sanctuary has to spend almost £1,000 a week on hay, so grazing is a way for it to get its bills down.

Mr Harbour told the Echo “I am waiting to speak to Basildon Council about this. I didn’t know we were here illegally.

“We haven’t dumped any rubbish.”