STAFF from Farmer Palmer's Farm Park helped rescue three Shetland ponies after they broke out of their field and wandered onto a busy dual carriageway.

Visitors to the park, at Organford, near Poole, raised the alarm when the ponies were spotted dangerously close to traffic on the A35.

They'd escaped a paddock adjacent to the Baker's Arms Roundabout, on the approach to Poole, and were dicing with disaster.

Sandra Palmer, of Farmer Palmer's, told the Daily Echo: “Customers came in thinking they were ours, which they were not. But our staff were very happy to go out and make sure the animals were safe.

“Our staff have animal welfare close to their hearts. They didn't need to get involved, but they wouldn't want the animals to be at risk.

“The ponies could also have caused a serious accident, injuring members of the public driving past.”

Dorset Police confirmed they were called to reports of three ponies loose in the area, around 1.10pm on Tuesday lunchtime.

Sandra explained: “There is a little paddock by the Baker's Arms Roundabout that has three Shetland Ponies in it. They got out and were on the main road by the roundabout.

“The public wrongly thought they were ours, which is why our staff first went out to investigate.

“We would never just leave them in a dangerous situation like that. Police were called, but before they arrived our staff had caught the ponies and managed to get them to safety.”

Sandra, who said the owners of the ponies have been informed, praised her quick-thinking staff members, who spent around two hours working to keep the ponies safe.

Farmer Palmer staff Gavin Newbury, Luke Millward and Tina Richman took part in the rescue.