A woman has been cleared of deliberately driving at horses at a hunt meeting.

The prosecution at Chelmsford Crown Court had alleged Diane Allen hit a horse called Percy as she drove down a narrow lane in Woodham Walter on March 11 last year.

She was charged with dangerous driving, but a jury found her not guilty after a trial.

The jury failed to agree on a lesser charge of careless driving and were discharged from returning a verdict.

Following the decision, Mrs Allen, 51, of Curling Tye Green, Woodham Walter, was formally discharged by the court.

She was also granted costs of £8,100 by trial judge Gareth Hawkesworth.

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