WITH the spate of cold weather, people have shown kindness in breaking the ice covering the horse troughs and pools in West Devon — but a Tavistock resident is asking people to think before doing so.

Resident Donna Baker has praised people for breaking the ice on the troughs, especially around the Pimple, to enable ponies and sheep to drink, but is asking people not to remove the ice.

She said: 'Please may I ask people not to remove the ice and lay it on the ground, where it will melt and soak away and be no good to anyone. Ice is water — if you take it out, you are leaving even less for animals to drink.

'It would be far more useful if we all take a flask of hot water to pour into the trough, melting the ice and adding more water for the animals.'