The heartbroken owner of a pony killed in an arson attack has spoken out in the hope the perpetrators can be caught and brought to justice.

Emma Lowers lost her 16-month-old colt named Jimmy and saw her two-month-old foal, Champ, now known as Phoenix, badly burnt in a blaze at stables in Ash, near West Kingsdown.

Firefighters were called to Barnfield Park on Tuesday, August 3 and extinguished the fire which gutted the enclosure and killed the pony inside.

The younger foal managed to escape the blaze but was badly injured and is now being cared for at a sanctuary in Norfolk.

In the weeks leading up to the attack, owner Emma, 40, says she and partner Bobby Scotter often heard people behind the plot late at night trying to disturb the animals.

She had left home on the evening of the attack to attend to her mum, who was recovering from hip problems, when she received a call to come back urgently.

"They had got to him and covered the inside and Jimmy himself in petrol," she said. "The flames were so high it was like two houses."

"The little foal, known as Champ, managed to get out but someone had jammed Jimmy's door shut."

Emma's two children, Keegan, 11, and Gracie, 13 were at home at the time of the attack and witnessed the ordeal as worried onlookers tried to help the colts.

The mum-of-two has since described the loss of Jimmy as like losing "the heart and soul" of the family.

"I have had Jimmy since he was five weeks old, hand rearing him after his mother actually sadly passed away," she said.

"Every day we were brushing him and feeding him. He was our baby. He was not just a pet he was one of us."

Following the attack, which Emma believes may have been motivated by jealousy, the family have since moved away from the area amid fears for their safety.

The devastated mum said they had only moved from Eltham in south east London onto the plot around 18 months ago.

It was hoped easier access to the countryside and green spaces would give her children a better lifestyle and the opportunity to play with the colts.

But since moving onto the site she says they have experienced nothing but "constant thieving", uncollected rubbish and now the sad loss of a family pet.

Emma says her children have flashbacks from the event and are still recovering.

In an appeal online she posted: "My children will never be the same again and our family home will never be our family home again, the children just can't face the flash backs and looking at it every day.

"I ask that anyone with information please come forward and help us."

Police are asking anyone with information to call 01622 604100 quoting reference 46/140289/21.

They can also contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 or complete the online form here.

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