A WOMAN has told of her terror after a hungry horse mistook imitation holly on her novelty Christmas hat for a bush and tried to eat it.

Shocked Eileen Samme, 55, from Cerne Abbas was kicked to the ground and needed hospital treatment for a leg injury.

She said: “It was after the piece of holly on my hat – it must have thought it was a holly bush. I think it must have wanted to eat it.

“It could have broken my leg or my hip and all because I was trying to get into the spirit of Christmas. It’s not funny, I was terrified.”

She added: “There’s no notices up warning people about these horses – they might look friendly but they are actually quite frisky.

“I’m a tough old bird but if it had happened to a person who was slighter in build or a child it could have broken something.

“It’s an accident waiting to happen.”

A spokesman for Cerne Abbas Parish Council said that Lord Digby owned the land where the incident took place.

He said: “The field to the north of the burial ground is known locally as Beevor Field and that is owned by Lord Digby.

“There are public rights of way across the field.”

Lord Digby was unavailable for comment.