A PONY had to be put down after a serious road accident at the weekend.

The crash between a milk float and a Landrover towing a horse box happened on the A20 at Smeeth, near Ashford, at the junction with Church Road.

The accident, shortly before 9am on Sunday, caused the roads to be closed for more than three hours as the specialist Kent Fire and Rescue Service animal unit from Faversham released the seriously injured animal but their efforts failed to save its life.

Paramedics at the scene treated an 11 year-old girl for shock.