WILD ponies that graze on heathland have been moved after members of the public ignored requests not to approach them.

Essex Wildlife Trust owns the eight Exmoor geldings, which spend part of the year in Tiptree.

They are an endangered, native breed and play a vital conservation role for the trust by grazing nature reserves for the benefit of wildlife.

After spending the summer in Tiptree, they were due to be moved to Tollesbury Wick later in October.

However, the ponies have now been moved earlier than intended because members of the public keep trying to approach them.

Emily McParland, communications manager for the Essex Wildlife Trust, said: "The ponies are semi-wild and we move them to different nature reserves because they graze in different ways to other animals like sheep.

"In particular, they help keep the three species of heather thriving and that's why they're so important to us.

"However, Tiptree Heath has become more and more popular in recent years and especially in the last few months, with people having staycations and enjoying the wildlife on their doorstep.

"While that's lovely to see, some people have been getting too close to the ponies and ignoring our signs to keep a respectful distance.

"While many of the regular reserve users are very respectful of the ponies, unfortunately a handful of people forget they are wild animals.

"That's why we've taken the decision to move them on now, rather than later in the month.

"It's important to keep everyone safe - people and the ponies - and why we needed to take action, to avoid potential conflict between the two.

"As a management team, we're looking at all our nature reserves for the same reason."

Essex Wildlife Trust say people should not feed the ponies and requests that dogs are kept on leads.

They are semi-feral and will move away if approached by humans or dogs, in the same way as most cows.

If approached or chased, they will run.

Tiptree Heath is the largest area of lowland heathland remaining in Essex.

The ponies will now spend the winter at Tollesbury Wick, grazing the coastal marsh.

This helps keep the nature reserve in top condition for nesting birds in the spring.