The RSPCA have been investigating what appears to be an abandoned horse close to a busy road.

The horse, near Tescos supermarket on the Kimpton Road Industrial Estate, has no shelter and residents fear it is only being fed by concerned members of the public.

One resident, who did not want to be named, said: "This horse is absolutely beautiful. He looks like he has been dumped as there is no shelter for him and the only food I can see is the carrots me and some locals have been feeding him.

This beautiful creature needs to be helped and I wont give up until he has been saved."

The horse has been there for over a week, but it is not clear who he belongs to.

A spokesperson for the RSPCA, which has inspected the horse, said: "We would like to assure local residents that our inspectors have carried out checks on the tethered (tied up) horse to monitor his/her welfare and ensure their needs are being met."

Although there is no law regarding the tethering of horses, the RSPCA said it is not a suitable method of long-term management.

The spokesperson said: "It restricts that animal's freedom to exercise itself, to find food or water, or to escape from either predators or the extremes of hot or cold weather.

We are also concerned that tethering is seen as a cheap solution to the care of equines leading to irresponsible equine ownership."

Do you own the horse or know its owner? Contact jpepper@london.newsquest.co.uk