AFTER two years of lobbying for a change in the law on fly-grazing in England, the Bill has finally been passed in the House of Commons.

An influential coalition has been working hard to raise the profile of the growing problem of fly-grazing.

The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee recently held a one-day inquiry into the issue which saw leaders of both rural and wel - fare organisations giving evidence on how fly-grazing causes horses, landowners, local authorities and charities much despair.

The coalition estimates there are about 3,000 horses fly-grazing across England with numbers still growing.

Tory MP Julian Sturdy, for York Central, who proposed his Control of Horses Bill last Friday in the Com - mons for England and had the Bill passed, urged horse owners to take much greater responsibility for their animals.

The Private Member’s Bill creates a new power for local authorities to detain horses in any public place in its area if it is not present with lawful authority. It also imposes a liability on the owner of the horse for any damage done