NEW laws to clamp down on illegal fly grazing of horses – proposed by York Outer MP Julian Sturdy amid growing concerns for their welfare – have come into force.

The Control of Horses Act 2015 aims to deter people from illegally grazing or simply abandoning horses on public and private land.

It started life as a Private Members’ Bill championed by Mr Sturdy, following years of lobbying by the National Farmer’s Union and horse charities. It successfully passed through Parliament and gained Royal Assent yesterday.

Mr Sturdy said that many of his constituents had been contacting him with their concerns about horse welfare.

He said: “There is now no excuse for allowing horses and ponies to be abandoned to a lifetime of neglect and I hope to see many more animals rehomed.”

As many as 500 horses are thought to be illegally fly-grazing in Yorkshire.

Concerns have repeatedly been raised by readers of The Press, particularly about the welfare of animals grazing on verges on the eastern outskirts of York and on the side of the A166 Stamford Bridge road. Horses escaping from their tethers and straying in to the roads have also caused a series of accidents.

The changes mean the owners of such animals can now be dealt with more quickly and effectively.

Under the previous Animals Act 1971, an abandoned horse could only be disposed of through sale at market or public auction. The new law extends the options for dealing with abandoned horses, which now include private sale, gifting and rehoming.

York farmer and NFU North East Regional Board member David Shaw has been one of the farmers campaigning for change.

He said he was “truly delighted” to see the new Act come into force.

He said: “This is the culmination of years of effort to get this problem taken seriously.

“Personally it has felt at times like a never-ending battle to protect the crops I grow to feed my cows.”