After years of complaints from residents about the welfare of the horses on land on the corner of London Road and the Embankment, the charity launched an investigation last month.

The RSPCA inspector in charge of the case, Stuart Wainwright, said he is happy with how the investigation had progressed and said the owners he has been in touch with have complied with his orders.

Two horses have been taken away because of the condition they were in but the remaining horses have now been moved into a field which the RSPCA says meets its requirements.

Insp Wainwright said: "The investigation is going the way I would like it to be going.

"There have been improvements and changes made.

"It's slow progress but progress has been made. I'm happy with the owners who have done as I've asked."

Previously, the horses were kept in five fields but have now been moved to two fields, because the others were unsuitable due to a lack of fencing.

Insp Wainwright said some fencing had been replaced which meant it now fell into line with guidelines and that the horses had natural shelter.

He said he couldn't comment on the horses which were removed because it is an on-going investigation but he said: "The ones we were concerned about have gone."

Insp Wainwright said they are continuing to look into the ownership of some of the horses and why they have been left in such a condition.

He added: "If conditions for their environment drop then the horses can be removed.

"They will be removed from the fields if they are unsuitable."

Members of the public have said that had it not been for them feeding the animals, they wouldn't have survived.

But they welcomed the RSPCA's investigation after years of campaigning.
Chris Bailey, who has tried to contact the RSPCA about the issue, said: "Getting a resolution that's in the best interest of the horses might prove to be impossible but it shouldn't stop us raising the issue.

"These fields aren't ideal but if they're not here, they might be tied up in the street somewhere with a bit of string."