A HORSE died after a car crash on a country road in South Wirral, police confirmed.

The crash happened at around 11.30am last Friday, October 31, on Manor Road in Thornton Hough.

A police spokesman said the road was closed while a vet attended after a car hit the horse.

However, the horse suffered serious injuries in the crash and had to be put down. The rider suffered from shock but did not require hospital treatment.

The hunting horse was owned by Anne Lyons, who runs a livery stables at nearby Thornton Farm.

She said the 24-year-old rider had been “traumatised” by the incident.

Mrs Lyons said: “The horse was walking along the road when a car came right up behind and killed him. The horse took the full impact, the injuries were unbelievable. If it had been a pony and child, they would have been killed.

“It was so unnecessary. We’ve lived here for 35 years and have never had an accident before.”

It is believed the car was being driven by an 86-year-old local man.