A police appeal has been launched after a man was injured while riding a horse and cart in a village. 

Police were called to Dedham at about 12pm on Tuesday to reports that a horse, attached to a cart, was loose in the High Street. 

The rider of the horse was found with serious injuries in Ardleigh Road at the junction with Long Road West. 

His injuries are not thought to be life-threatening but he currently remains in hospital. 

An Essex Police spokesman said: “We are appealing to anyone who was in the area yesterday afternoon and saw anything related to this incident to get in touch.

“We do not know how the rider came off the cart at this stage and we are looking into the circumstances which led up to the incident.”

Officers are now searching for witnesses to the crash to contact them. 

Anyone with any information is being asked to contact Essex Police quoting the reference number 0518 of October 22.