A man has been arrested after a horse and riding equipment was stolen near Dorchester.

It was reported that a horse was taken from a property on the Waterston area between 7.30pm on Saturday, August 6 and the morning of Sunday, August 7. Four head collars were also reported to have been stolen.

One of the collars was bright red with sparkles sewn into it and navy blue padding. Another was leather and a third was bright green with 'Thistle' on the nose band. The final stolen collar was a mint green or grey colour with a pale blue lead rope.

The horse was reportedly found in a nearby field at around 10am on Sunday, August 7, believed to have been abandoned there by the offender. It was returned to its owner but had sustained several injuries.

Following enquiries by Dorset Police's Rural Crime Team, a 20-year-old man from the Dorchester area has been arrested on suspicion of a horse and tack.

Police Constable Sebastian Haggett of Dorset Police's Rural Crime Team, said: "We launched a full investigation into this report and following our enquiries we have arrested a suspect.

"We are committed to supporting our rural communities and will respond proactively to reported incidents of this nature.

"Our investigation remains ongoing and I am continuing to appeal for anyone with information that might assist our enquiries to please come forward.

"In particular, we are interested in speaking to anyone who may have been driving in the area and seen someone in possession of a horse. We would also ask motorists who were in the vicinity to check their dashcam footage."

Anyone with information is asked to contact Dorset Police at dorset.police.uk, via email [email protected] or by calling 101 quoting reference 55220127991.