TWO horses which bolted after they were terrified by fireworks were saved by a great team effort.

The horses fled from a field on Huddersfield Road in Meltham after fireworks exploded in the night sky above them.

They ran into Huddersfield Road, causing car driver Grant Upton to slam on his brakes.

Grant, of Upperthong, then followed them, trying to warn other motorists.

The horses - nine-year-old Gypsy and Sophie, aged eight - led him on a 10-mile chase before they were finally cornered in Upperthong.

Their owner, 39-year-old Shelli Perkins, said: "I was rounding them up and bringing them down to my livery stables one by one when a firework exploded nearby.

"They just bolted and there was nothing I could do to stop them.

"When I saw them disappearing I thought I'd never see them alive again and was very worried in case anyone else got hurt.

"If a horse is hit by a car, even at low speeds, it can kill the horse and wreck the car."

Shelli alerted her husband, Jeremy, who immediately phoned the police.

She also contacted two friends, Natalie Freath, of Crosland Hill, and Michelle Bradley, from Upperthong, who both joined the pursuit.

The horses ran on roads to Honley and ended up on Greenfield Road, heading down towards Holmfirth.

They were finally captured in a cul-de-sac near Upperthong Village Hall.

When Shelli arrived two policemen were holding the horses.

The problem then was getting them back home.

But Michelle called a friend, Sue Chadwick, who drove from her Crosland Hill home in a large horse transporter, loaded Gypsy and Sophie up and took them back to the stables.

Shelli said: "It's incredible neither horse suffered a scratch, but Grant told me later there had been four near misses.

"I'd just like to thank everyone who was involved in chasing and catching them.

"It was a fantastic team effort by people who did not know one another.

"It just shows there are some wonderful people around."