10 years ago

A WOMAN has told how her horse had to be put down after it was spooked by a low-flying hot-air balloon in Henley. Liz Jones, 52, was in a field with her thoroughbred mare Della at Friar Park Stables when the red Virgin balloon passed low overhead after aborting a landing at Henley Rugby Club on Saturday evening. As the pilot fired up the burners to rise, the roar caused the 18-year-old horse to bolt and she fell to the ground. Della, who was already unwell, was unable to get up and the vet administered a lethal injection.

A boy beat the record set by an Olympic handball player when he tried a new sport called “street snooker” in Henley. Ethan Pearce, 11, was cheered on by his friends as he tried to hit coloured targets with a ball to score as many points as possible in a minute. He scored 49 points, smashing the record of 42 set by Bobby White, who was there to witness his eclipse at Makins recreation ground.

A silk rug worth more than £15,000 has been stolen from a furniture shop. The Indian Agra rug was taken from Brights in High Street, Nettlebed, on July 25. The business is offering a £2,000 reward for information.