A miniature Shetland pony rescued after a road accident has received a special visit from the police officer who saved her.

Two ponies were saved after another horse had been killed in a collision involving a car and lorry on the A11 on January 10, 2022.

Police were called to the A11 near Red Lodge after three ponies escaped onto the road.

Great Yarmouth Mercury: Ponies Carey and Mariah with Teresa Steel and Lauren Hipperson a few days after being rescued in January 2022. Picture - Redwings Horse SanctuaryPonies Carey and Mariah with Teresa Steel and Lauren Hipperson a few days after being rescued in January 2022. Picture - Redwings Horse Sanctuary (Image: Redwings Horse Sanctuary)

Officers moved the surviving animals to a nearby field. The ponies were handed to Redwings Horse Sanctuary after their owners couldn't be found.

One of the ponies, Mariah, was named after the officer who helped save her life - Suffolk Constabulary's PC Mariah Hammond.

PC Hammond has now paid Mariah a visit at Redwings Caldecott Visitor Centre, near Great Yarmouth.

“I didn’t recognise Mariah at first. She looks amazing," PC Hammond said.

"When I first met her, she looked a lot different. She was much scrappier. She was very nervous then as well.

"It took about an hour and fifteen minutes to catch her.

“She had her friend with her, Carey, and the third one obviously - the circumstances around that are a bit sadder - but I’m glad we caught her. I crouched down and managed to grab her mane.

“I’m so happy Mariah's at Redwings and despite only having moved to their visitor centre at Caldecott a few days ago, she’s obviously settled with her little friends.”

Great Yarmouth Mercury: PC Mariah Hammond said she was happy to see Mariah the Shetland pony doing well at Redwings. Picture - Redwings Horse SanctuaryPC Mariah Hammond said she was happy to see Mariah the Shetland pony doing well at Redwings. Picture - Redwings Horse Sanctuary (Image: Redwings Horse Sanctuary)

Mariah has befriended many of the other horses at Redwings, including Adoption Stars the Gangsters, a small herd of miniature Shetlands.

Carey, meanwhile, is living with her new friend Pickle at Redwings Aylsham Visitor Centre. Her mother was the horse killed in the A11 incident.

Both Mariah and Carey are available for visits at the centres which are open seven days a week, 10am to 4pm (paddocks close at 3.30pm) including Bank Holidays.

The centres welcome dogs and entry is free, although donations are welcomed to help Redwings care for their residents.

For more information, visit www.redwings.org.uk