Startled villagers awoke to find horses roaming around their neighbourhood.

The animals were discovered milling around Beeston Green and the surrounding houses last Wednesday morning following a spate of burglaries in the village.

Beeston resident Max Hill woke up to the sight of two horses wandering around his garden, and believes they escaped after burglars broke into a number of properties in the village.

He told the Chronicle: "It was a bit of a surprise – there were a couple of horses in our garden and about four roaming around on the village green.

"Fortunately they were all rounded up quite quickly, although we now have a few large hoof marks on the front lawn.

"On Tuesday night there was a spate of break-ins from Scott's Nursery to the Green, during which electrical cables and copper fittings were taken from barns adjacent to houses, straw bales were stolen and the horses must have escaped."

A spokesman for Bedfordshire Police confirmed that the force received reports of a burglary at Seddington Nursery, just outside Beeston, on the morning of Wednesday, September 24.

According to the police, the retail part of the business was broken into and thieves stole tools from a greenhouse on the site.

Mr Hill added: "It's quite ironic – it seems Beeston goes for months without almost any incidents and then all hell breaks out on one night.
"It would seem the culprits made their escape across the fields, which of course is the obvious unlit escape route."

Fellow Beeston resident Poppy Cope said: "There was great excitement in the village because people originally thought the horses had been stolen.

"But I think that was actually a bit of a red herring, and that the horses had been let out accidentally and were a sub-plot to the burglaries."
A police spokesman said: "A forensic team examined the scene of the crime, and an investigation has been launched into the break-in."

If you have any information about the incident call the police control centre on 01234 841212.