Firefighters spent more than two hours removing a stable roof to help a Suffolk punch horse in difficulty.

The Suffolk punch, which is an endangered breed, was reported to be unable to stand in its stables in Church Street, Worlingworth.

Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service sent two crews from Princes Street and one from Stradbroke to help the stricken horse at around 10.50am.

A spokesman for the fire service said: “A Suffolk Punch is unable to stand.

“The horse is in stables and the roof needed to be removed for access.”

The crews used a Unimog – a multi-purpose all-wheel drive vehicle designed for rough terrain.

Crews had left the scene by 1.10pm. The owner and a vet were with the horse.

Suffolk punches are listed as being “critically endangered” with fewer alive today than there are giant pandas.

They were once common features in the fields across East Anglia, where they were used as work horses.