The 'field of death' has claimed it latest victim - an abandoned foal which perished by the water's edge.

Horse welfare campaigners have given Kingsnorth field its macabre name due to the number of horses that have died, after being deserted on the land at Ashford Road, over a number of years.

The scandal over the horses shows no sign of abating even after Ashford and Tenterden MP Damian Green's intervention last April, during which he had a meeting to seek assurances from RSPCA bosses that everything was been done to prevent the deaths.

WARNING: Graphic images

The latest dead animal was discovered in a decomposed state at the weekend.

There is no suggestion the landowner is behind the neglect of the horses found dead on the land.

Despite new powers introduced under the Control of Horses Act 2015 to deter the illegal grazing or abandonment of horses on public and private land, known as fly-grazing, the equine crisis persists.

A new law requiring horses to be compulsorily microchipped, will not come into force until 2020 and in the meantime horses are dying.

Police say that animal welfare on private land is a matter for the RSPCA, but the charity is only permitted to enter such land where there is immediate distress, although landowners can take action themselves to remove the horses.

Horse campaigner Fredericka Vann said: "I'm tired of people passing the buck while all the time horses are dying.

"Poor innocent horses are dying and it's horrific. It's the field of death.

"It is like being in the Dark Ages. We are in 2019 and these horses are suffering.

"The foal that died was put in the field at the end of August and it still had its baby coat. It was too young to fend for itself."

Around nine abandoned horses still remain on the privately-owned Kingsnorth field.

A spokesperson for the RSPCA said: “It’s really upsetting to hear about a dead pony at this location and we share the frustrations of the people who raise their on-going concerns about the welfare of horses there.

“We thank the people who continue to contact us about the welfare of the horses on this site and we take reports seriously, but we can only act within the law.

“Everyone wants to improve the welfare of these horses and we do want to work with other welfare organisations in the area to improve the situation.”