Property tycoon Fergus Wilson has stepped in to help a little girl who used all her savings to get her pony back.

The incident that touched Mr Wilson's heart happened in Sevenoaks before Christmas.

Thieves broke into a stables in Riverhill and in the course of the break-in eight-year-old Sahara Treeby's pony Poppy and her mum's horse Bumble were allowed to escape.

Police found them running loose in the road and - not knowing where they had come from - placed them in a "green-yard."

When Sahara's mum, Angela Gibson, tracked them down, she was told there would be a £150 recovery fee to get the animals back - money she did not have readily to hand just before Christmas.

At that point, Sahara ran upstairs to empty her piggy-bank to help pay the fee.

Mr Wilson said: "I have also suffered in the past from people letting horses out onto the roads and also letting sheep out."

He said: "When I was a teacher in Park Wood in Maidstone, I found that little girls were often horse mad.

"I can understand how upset this girl must have been to lose her pony and it would be a great shame if she lost her savings too."

Mr Wilson has sent the family a cheque to cover the police recovery fee.

Mrs Gibson said: "We're very grateful. Sahara is delighted and is writing him a thank-you note now."

Escaped animals, unusual finds and news from the RSPCA can all be found here.