THREE ponies died in a crash on the M4 near Hungerford this morning that led to eight-mile rush hour tailbacks.

The animals were loose on the motorway and were hit by two lorries.

A vet from Valley Equine Hospital was called to the scene and in a post on social media the clinic said: “Although there was sadly nothing to be done for three of the ponies, two were successfully rescued and are recuperating in our stables. Their owner has been found and contacted.”

It is not known how the ponies got onto the carriageway, but the clinic thanked racehorse transport firm LRT, the police and the fire service for helping to save the surviving animals.

The accident at junction 14 in the early hours of the morning closed the motorway eastbound. Two lanes were re-opened but later traffic had to be diverted up and over the scene via the slip road while the clean-up operation was carried out. It was later re-opened fully.