Council bosses have vowed to work with police to impound illegally-tethered horses as they revealed they received hundreds of calls from residents about nuisance animals last year.

Bradford Council said it had received 202 notifications directly from members of the public about horses on its land, as well as 72 from neighbourhood wardens between May 1 last year and May 21 this year.

The figures were released after the Telegraph & Argus reported how five-year-old Harlie Thompson, of Buttershaw, had undergone life-saving surgery after being kicked in the head by a horse that was tethered near a children’s play area at Buttershaw Beck.

During the operation he had to have part of his brain, the size of a 50p piece, removed after it was pierced by fractured bone.

His mother Laura Thompson, 23, who was with her son at the time of the accident, said police had yet to track down the owner of the horse.

She said: “There’s still a horse down at the play area and even one at the top of our road. The police have been making inquiries and I hope they track down the owner.

“Harlie’s making a good recovery, but he may need to live with the consequences of the accident for the rest of his life. At the moment he has a soft spot on his head and at some point in the future he will probably need a metal plate putting in. He can’t do things, like play football, in case it causes more damage.”

Ian Bairstow, strategic director environment and sport, said the removal of tethered horses from Council land is in an “ongoing issue” in some parts of the district.

He said: “Impoundments are planned based on the information gathered from site inspections, along with observation reports from officers, members and the public.

“The Council is working closely with the police and is looking at all options available to increase enforcement against this illegal and anti-social behaviour.”