An Epsom riding school which was rocked after three of their ponies were brutally attacked have been gifted a new horse through community fundraising.

Epsom Riding for the Disabled Association (Epsom RDA), in Hook Road, was hit by an overnight break-in last August which saw three of them get hurt.

Buffy and Marigold suffered wounds to their jaws, legs and shoulders during the incident, while Sam had to be put down due to the injuries he suffered.

His shoulder and barsa tendon were injured, which later became infected and caused septicaemia.

READ: Riding school in shock after ponies are hurt in attack

But following fundraising efforts from the community, which raised just over £3,750, a new horse named Tommy was purchased.

Carla Facey and her family helped raise money through a Christmas lights initiative during the holidays before presenting the RDA with a cheque.

She said: “There was a massive response from everybody and now it's quite a good feeling for everyone in the community, to know they all contributed to buying them a new horse after what happened in the summer to them.

“It's a really amazing feeling, it's really lovely for our children to see something [like this] and for us to do that, and for something so good to come out of it.

“All the hard work makes it all worth it.”

Tommy, who is eight, has been described as “the perfect gentleman”, and while it’ll take time for him to settle, there are “high hopes for him”.

READ: Epsom riding school 'heartbroken' by death of horse injured in 'vicious' attack

Stella Milne, chair of the Epsom RDA, said: “We're absolutely over the moon, the generosity of the local community has been overwhelming. For the Facey family to raise £3,754.27 in a month is absolutely fantastic.

“When Carla and her family came down on the Saturday, because we had no idea how much money they had raised, she turned the cheque round and we went, 'Oh my god! That's amazing!'

“The volunteers and the riders who come here love it so much. It was a huge, huge traumatic experience for everybody concerned, and it has taken a long while to get over it, and of course it'll take ages because we still have one horse that's not been able to be used.

“But knowing the local community is supporting us so much it makes you feel warm inside and feel that 2019, because this is our 50th anniversary year, that we can move on.

“Look to the future, not to the past.”