HORSES rode out through a town in an emotional event in memory of the animals killed during a devastating arson attack on stables five years ago.

A total of 50 horses joined the ride in Burnham to remember 12 horses and a cat killed in a fire at Elmwood Equestrian Centre, on December 3, 2017.

Essex County Fire and Rescue Service believed the fire was caused deliberately, but no one has been caught.

Grace Tredgold and Ciera Battson, both 23, have organised a memorial ride every year since the tragedy.

They both lost horses in the blaze.

They have thanked the public, farmers, police and Elmwood owner Annie Hull for helping them to put the memorial ride together.

Grace said: “It went really well, we had 50 horses in total and a couple of people on foot as well.

“We had a lot of support on the high street.

“I’m always nervous turning on to the high street and wondered whether anyone would be there.

“It’s quite overwhelming for us, as friends, family and residents turn up.

“It means a lot to myself, Ciara and others involved in the fire.

“There were police escorts from the rural team with their blue lights on, we had three patrol vehicles.

“There was a fair amount of people who came out and watched.

“When we set off, we hope everything will go okay - everyone came back okay and the horses came back okay.

“Everyone still remembers. We had some banners on the rolling road block with pictures of the horses.

“There were road works on Maldon Road, but all the horses behaved and we managed it well.

“All the cars and traffic slowed down and stopped and many people watched from their cars.

“We had people asking if they could record it.

“It’s the little things that mean a lot like the people who show support by wanting to remember it.

“It means a lot to us. We have done it every year so far, and with it being five years, we wondered whether people would fade away and not care as much.

“But we had people from different yards join us and show support.”