A SHETLAND pony has a new home in Ramsbottom after it was rescued in the middle of a roundabout.

The pony was on the loose in Ewood, Blackburn, and staff from Bleakholt Animal Sanctuary, in Edenfield, were called to help.

It is believed the two-year-old pony had escaped from a nearby travellers’ camp and was roaming around the area for around two weeks.

The pony was eventually found on a roundabout, and Bleakholt staff said there were signs that it has been mistreated.

Police closed the road off while three members of staff at Bleakholt managed to rescue the pony by coaxing it with food.

They were at the scene for around half an hour, and took the pony to Ramsbottom.

Sheila Linley, a stable handler at Bleakholt, was one of the members of staff who attended.

She said: “The pony had a head collar, which made it a bit easier to rescue.

“It will be here for the foreseeable future, it is a bit nervous and looks like it has been mistreated, and we are hoping it will become more confident.”

Staff have now named the pony, and took inspiration from the popular US show Game of Thrones, naming the animal after the character Tyrion Lanister, a dwarf who is one of the stars of the program.

Sheila added: “We have had some space at the sanctuary for a while and we said that the next animal that came in, we would call Tyrion, because we are big fans of the show.”