A GROUP of youths have tied 'twine' around the necks of ponies at a Flintshire animal park.

Staff at Greenacres Animal Park in Mancot were left shocked and angry after a group of 'young boys' were spotted chasing the Shetland ponies through their field on Tuesday afternoon.

Workers then found twine around the necks of the horses on the siite.

A spokesman said on social media: "This afternoon we had a kind member of the public let us know that there was some kids chasing our horses in the field...we went straight down to find 3 young boys (who immediately ran as soon as we shouted over).

"As we got to the horses to check on them, we found that they had twine tied around their necks! now we’re unsure as to why they’d do this...maybe to use as a lead? but the rope was so tight on some of the horses that it needed to be cut off.

"We appreciate our horses are in a field that has a public footpath through it, and that the kids are bored but PLEASE know our Shetland pony’s are not there to be rode or pulled through a field by a piece of twine tied around their necks.

"The police have been down and advised us of the next steps, but if anyone has any information that would be greatly appreciated."