A headstone has been commissioned to remember 12 horses tragically killed in an arson attack.

The plaque has the names of the horses which died in the fire at Elmwood Equestrian Centre in Maldon Road, Burnham in December last year.

It has been put in place following a memorial service for the animals.

Gemma Brown, 23, from Wickham Bishops led the project which created a fenced off site for the owners to pay tribute to the horses.

She said: “The site is about 100 metres from where they used to be kept. It is nice we will have somewhere to go and have a bit of closure, and we can remember good memories of them.

“I think it’s important we show the horses were members of the family and we cannot just go out and buy another one.”

Gemma owned two horses that sadly died in the blaze - Zinny and Minnie.

Recalling the night, Gemma said: “It was just horrendous to get that phone call in the middle of the night. I raced up to the yard and saw how much the fire had taken hold.

“We knew we had left Zinny and Minnie in there so we knew exactly where they were, but we still had that hope they had got out. I spent so much time calling in the field, but they did not come back to me.

“Thank God there were still people at the stable that night, as without them, the figure could have been much greater than 12.”

A group of volunteers supported Gemma in building the space.

Alongside the headstone a memorial ride will be held on December 2 by fellow riders, Ciera Battson, Grace Tredgold and Helen Waller.

Gemma added: “The ride is a brilliant idea, it is bringing everyone back together, even though it is such a sad thing. It creates a positive out of something very sad.”