HORSES ran in terror from a mountain fire in Ebbw Vale this afternoon.

Jonathan Powell, whose office overlooks the mountain, said the sound of animals galloping away alerted him to the blaze which began just after 3pm opposite the Innovation Centre by Victoria Business Park.

“It was pretty disturbing to watch the horses running”, he said. “They didn’t know what to do. I would say there were three or four of them. I think they were fenced in as there seemed to be an element of being trapped.”

Firefighters have now brought the blaze under control.

Mr Powell said he thought fine weather and schools being off for half term could have meant people were out on the hillside looking to start fires.

South Wales Fire and Rescue recently held a summit with the Welsh Government to consider how to deal with deliberate grass fires.