The RSPCA is appealing for the owner of 22 horses to come forward after one of them died and another two were found collapsed in a field in Watford.

The horses are believed to have been dumped on Braziers farm field in Hampermill Lane.

The emaciated body has been removed and will be post-mortemed to establish a cause of death while three other horses, who are extremely thin, will be examined.

RSPCA inspector James Bromley said: "We are currently investigating how these four horses came to be in such a poor condition. "There may be a reasonable explanation so we need to find the owner as soon as possible to rule them out of our investigation."

The remaining 18 horses are in reasonable bodily condition and the RSPCA will continue to make further visits to the field to monitor them.

Seven other horses were removed by baliffs earlier in the week at the request of the owner of the field, where the horses had been left.

Anyone with information should call the RSPCA on 0300 1234 999.