A HORSE had to be humanely put down last night after a harrowing incident on a Perthshire farm.

Firefighters were called to Pairney Farm near Auchterarder at around 8.50pm following reports of an animal in distress.

Crews from the town were joined at the scene by the Perth heavy rescue unit.

On arrival they discovered that a horse had fallen down a disused well. The animal had landed on its back and become trapped.

A veterinarian was asked to attend and on witnessing the horse’s distressed state, took the decision to put it to sleep.

Tayside Fire and Rescue last night said it had been “a very sad outcome.”