Sara Cox's horse set alight

Radio One DJ Sara Cox's childhood horse has suffered horrific injuries in an arson attack.

The gelding, which is stabled near her father's home, had petrol thrown over it before being set alight.

It survived the attack after the stable's owners, woken by barking dogs, ran out and doused the flames with buckets of water.

Last night a vet said the injuries to the horse, called Gus, were among the worst he had ever seen and it might yet have to be put to sleep.

Police last night arrested an 18-year-old man in connection with the incident amid suspicions it was a cruel revenge attack over a lovers' tiff. He was released on bail pending forensic tests.

Miss Cox gave the horse to the daughter of a family friend, but it is thought the animal was targeted following a row between another girl who sometimes rides the horse and her boyfriend.

The breakfast show presenter's father Len has been to see the horse and was said to be 'shocked' at its injuries.

Miss Cox, 29, used to ride the animal as a schoolgirl. She gave him to Laura Harris around 13 years ago.

The 15-year-old's mother Kath - who runs stables in Little Lever, near Bolton, where Gus and six other horses are kept - said: 'Laura is heartbroken.

'Not many people have seen anything like this before. To see an animal actually torched is terrible.'

The attack happened at around 5am on Saturday. Mrs Harris, 45, and her husband Geoffrey McWilliams found the horse frantically thrashing around his stable as the flames began to spread.

Mrs Harris said: 'We woke up when we heard the dogs barking. My husband and I filled buckets of water and managed to put the blaze out and we managed to get Gus out of the stable.

'Luckily most of the petrol went on the blanket on his back, which probably saved his life. But Gus is still coughing up flesh because he inhaled so much smoke.'

Mr McWilliams, 51, said: 'Sara's dad Len was absolutely shocked when he came to see the horse. How can anybody do this to such a beautiful creature?

'He's my daughter's favourite. I am devastated and we all have this awful feeling of bitterness.'

The family face a wait until the end of the week to discover whether the horse will survive the attack or have to be put to sleep.

Vets have already told them it could lose an eye.

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