Sindy Stenton and Tony Jex said they would have been forced to go into the water themselves if it hadn't been for the quick arrival of Castleford firefighters and water rescue teams from Rothwell and Leeds last Tuesday morning.

Firefighters used sledgehammers and axes to break a path through the ice to get to the horses, Belle and Brandy, in the dramatic three-hour rescue on the field in Lower Mickletown.

Miss Stenton, of Airedale, said: "When I arrived there were three fire engines waiting for me and it was a good job because the horses were about 100m across the lake, I don't know how I would have got there.

"The ice was about eight inches thick and the rescue teams had to work and work to try and chop through it.

"Brandy got out through the path they'd made but Belle couldn't, she gave up about six times and I thought she might not make it. I can't explain how upset I was."

The horses have been checked by a vet and are now doing well.

The alarm was raised by Steven Clegg, who spotted a dark shadow on the lake from his home and investigated.

Miss Stenton, 40, said: "I took Mr Clegg a bottle of whisky and said thank you because he could have just dismissed the shadow.

"He took the time to investigate and I can't thank him enough."

Mr Jex, of Ruskin Drive, Airedale, added: "If the fire crews hadn't got to us so quickly we would probably have gone in ourselves, so they saved us from doing something stupid.

"I'd like to thank all the firefighters because it can't have taken them more than 10 minutes to get there after somebody spotted the horses.

"It's also important to let people know how dangerous ice is – they should keep off it."