Schoolgirl Rebecca Chapman was today hailed a hero for helping to save the lives of 25 horses stranded in the rising waters of the River Ouse.

Horse rescuers at Millfield Livery Stables, Poppleton. From the left are Emma Chilton, Sarah Jackson, Krista Sutton, Rebecca Chapman, Samantha Sutton, Sue Hepworth, and Tracey Williams with Megan the horse Picture: David Harrison

Rebecca, 13, of College Road, Copmanthorpe, spent nearly three hours in the icy water leading the frightened animals to safety after the river rose over fields at the Millfield Livery Stables at Nether Poppleton. The Tadcaster Grammar School pupil was one of nine people who responded to the call for help from the stables' owner, Krista Sutton.

Rebecca, who was at the stables visiting her own horses, helped to pull up fences to give the horses an escape route, herded them into a group and then entered the water - up to 5ft deep in places - to lead the animals to dry land.

But she said that at the time she did not fear for her own safety.

"The danger didn't bother me because we had to get the horses to a safe place," she said.

"We just took it upon ourselves to do it because no one else was doing anything to help them."

Rebecca was the last person out of the water, and was praised by Mrs Sutton. She said: "Rebecca and everyone else who helped were absolutely wonderful. Without them the horses would have died."

Mrs Sutton said the emergency services had been able to do little for the stricken animals as their rescue boat was scaring them.

"It was very, very cold and the water was so deep that we were virtually swimming at times," she said.

Mrs Sutton also had praise for Sarah Jackson, from the Redwings horse sanctuary, who spent much of the morning "up to her neck in water", and for one of the horses who was ridden bareback to lead the others to safety.

"They are all heroes - the people and the horse," she said.

Rebecca's mum, Helen, said: "She was brilliant, I'm really proud of her."

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