A woman found dead in a field near York has been named as Heather Louise Boaden, of Oak Glade, Huntington.

The 23-year-old is thought to have died after being kicked by a horse.

Police said her body was discovered in a field with three horses at a farm off Malton Road, York, at 11am on Thursday.

An ambulance crew called to the scene alerted police and Miss Boaden was pronounced dead by a doctor just after noon.

A North Yorkshire Police spokesman said: "It would appear the deceased, who was visiting the farm, had been walking in the field when she was kicked by a horse and sustained a fatal head injury."

York coroner Donald Coverdale has been informed and an inquest will be held. The death is not being treated as suspicious.

Police said a vet was called in after the incident to examine the three horses.

The incident happened at Sandburn Farm, close to the Tanglewood pub, near the A64, where Miss Boaden's horse was stabled.

Farmer Richard Hetherton called the emergency services, after finding her lying in the field.

He paid tribute to the horse lover. He said: "She was such a sweet girl. She was very nice. She came down here every day and she absolutely adored her horse.

"What's happened is an absolute tragedy and it's just been a freak chance in a million.

"She had just put her horse in the field and it's obviously somehow kicked her.

"It hasn't really sunk in yet."

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