Residents are calling for action over a herd of horses roaming streets and damaging property.

About a dozen horses have been wandering loose around Tyersal, damaging gardens and disrupting traffic, but no-one has yet been able to track down the owner.

The horses have been seen most recently on Tyersal Road and Tyersal Park walking in gardens and eating flowers and plants.

Jose Nichols, who lives on Tyersal Park, said her lawn had been completely damaged by the horses and a wall knocked down.

She said: "It started last year and they seem to appear every six weeks or so. They can been walking around for up to two days at a time," she said.

She said she believed the horses belonged a nearby farmer.

A police spokesman said: "Officers have visited the area and made enquiries to find out who owns the horses but so far they have been unable to find an owner."

Mrs Nichols, who is a karaoke presenter, said she was trying to track down the owner to pay for the repairs needed because of the horses.

"A wall needs to be rebuilt, the fencing has been bent, my lawn has been totally destroyed and my flowers and plants have been completely trampled," she said.

"The horses are distressed, and are eating their way through well-kept gardens and causing extreme distress to residents.

"When galloping all together they are a danger to the children and adults alike, making the area unsafe for children to play in."

Mrs Nichols said that she wanted whoever owned the horses to take steps to keep them under control and away from residents.

Councillor Josephine Jarosz (Lab, Pudsey) who represents the area on Leeds City Council said she had received a number of complaints about the damage caused by the horses and seen it first-hand.

"It is horrendous really how people could own horses and let them break out and wander round the streets. It's really quite bad," she said.

At the moment officers for Leeds City Council are working with the police and the RSPCA to track down the owners of the horses.

Coun Jarosz said: "I would urge the owners of the horses to come forward so we can sort out an amicable solution."

A police spokesman said they are also unable to do anything unless the horses are causing a hazard to traffic but added they will again try to track down the ' owner.

Coun Jarosz will be updating residents on how officers are getting on resolving this problem at a residents forum meeting at Tyersal Residents Club on Wednesday, January 18, starting at 7.30pm.