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The Suffolk-based East Anglian Daily Times has launched a campaign tosafeguard the future of the Suffolk Punch horse, the oldest and rarest breed of heavy horse.

It was once a familiar sight on farms all over Britain – especially in EastAnglia – but is now rarer than the giant panda with only about 200 left in theworld.

The EADT launched its campaign after it found a renowned stud farm based at a local prison was threatened with closure under a Home Office review.

That could lead to the small herd being split up and eventual extinction as they are notoriously difficult to breed.

The paper carried a front page story and spread inside and a leader urging the Home Office to think again.

Deputy editor Steve Hughes, who launched the campaign, said: “The Suffolk Punch has become a famous symbol of East Anglia’s rural heritage and it would be a tragedy if it was allowed to die out.

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