An animal sanctuary in south Wales has launched a campaign to stop ponies being used underground ever again.

The Pit Pony Rescue Centre at Pontypridd is urging the Welsh Assembly to support its calls for legislation to prevent private coal mines from using ponies.

It's such a hostile environment - it's no place to take a horse

Roy Peckham, Pit Pony Sanctuary trustee

The decline of deep mining in Wales means there are no ponies currently working underground.

But campaigners fear that a resurgence of drift mining could result in animals being used again.

Ninety years ago there were 70,000 ponies working in the mines.

The figure gradually decreased to none as the industry declined.

Retirement home

The Pit Pony Rescue Centre in Pontypridd looks after 10 old working ponies.

One, called Snowy, is thought to be at least 50-years-old while another, Smokey, is in his thirties.

Pit ponies suffer eye irritation from coal dust

Trustee Roy Peckham said the animals have suffered greatly from their years working underground.

"A lot of them have got coal dust on their lungs, eyesight problems and hearing problems from the noise of the machinery and explosions, as well as joint problems from the physical work they did," said Mr Peckham.

The trustees are concerned that the refusal of opencast mining projects in Wales on environmental grounds could result in a re-opening of drift mines.

Renewed activity

The narrow seams - little more than two feet high - may still contain small but valuable coal reserves.

Mr Peckham fears people may be tempted to use ponies in these conditions.

Roy Peckham fears ponies may be used again

"There are still people who own land with coal on it - they've had collieries there before and they've still got ponies," he said.

"I can't think of any other reason why they would be hanging on to ponies except to use them underground again.

"It's such a hostile environment - it's no place to take a horse."

In recent years the sanctuary has been lobbying the Home Office and took a petition to Downing Street urging the UK Goverment to forbid the use of ponies in mining.

Campaigners are now hoping for a positive response from the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), which is currently reviewing animal welfare legislation.