More than 20 emaciated horses rescued from a 'horrific' scene in south Wales are being cared for by a Norfolk charity.

Redwings Horse Sanctuary was this week involved in transporting 26 horses from Caerphilly in a case likened to the high-profile rescue at Spindle Farm near Amersham in 2008.

Caerphilly Borough Council's Trading Standards Department led the rescue from two sites with help given by Redwings.

The charity sent three lorries, two vets and eight handling staff to the site to bring back 26 horses and ponies to its sanctuary on Wednesday.

Four others have been taken to HorseWorld in Bristol, while four more suspected to be linked to those responsible have already been removed to the Society for the Welfare of Horses and Ponies in Monmouth.

Redwings' head of welfare and veterinary surgeon, Nic de Brauwere, said: 'It was a horrific scene with many extremely weak and malnourished ponies.

'There was virtually no grass so while the site appeared very scenic, there was little or nothing for them to eat.

'They are in varying stages of emaciation and we have given them a condition rating which matches the Amersham horses.

'Some of the horses were already dead and others would almost certainly have died if we had not intervened when we did. 'I can only describe it by saying it was as if they were queuing to die. It was an utterly depressing and heart-breaking scene I hoped I would never have to witness again.'

The charity, at Hapton, near Tasburgh, said it still has 63 horses, ponies and donkeys in its care from the Buckinghamshire case, during which more than 100 animals were removed from horrific conditions, and was operating at capacity.

Mr de Brauwere added: 'It has not been easy for us to take 26 horses in and bear all the necessary expenses associated with their care and expert rehabilitation.

'We are so grateful to HorseWorld and the SWHP as without their assistance with transport and housing we may simply not have been able to help.

'But this is why the equine charities are here, and this is what our supporters help us to do. It's just awful to find yourself again separating the dead horses from the living and asking yourself how anyone can let this happen.'

Cabinet member for community and leisure services at Caerphilly County Borough Council, David Poole, said: 'I am appalled that these horses and ponies could be kept in conditions such as these, and this was an excellent example of a local authority working with animal welfare organisations to protect animals in need.'

To donate towards the care of the Caerphilly ponies text to RWHS00 followed by the amount to 70070, visit www.redwings.co.uk/donating or call 01508 481000.