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Thousands back Punch appeal

Thousands of animal-lovers from all walks of life have backed a newspaper campaign to save a breed of horse that is dying out.

The Save the Suffolk Punch appeal, launched by the East Anglian Daily Times in February, has resulted in more then 10,000 people signing a petition to protect the future of the oldest and rarest breed of heavy horse.

The horse was once a familiar sight on farms all over Britain – especially in East Anglia – but is now rarer than the giant panda with only about 200 left in the world.

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.

And now the campaign has got a school, a popstar, a football chairman and a TV presenter all behind it.

Rock star Chris Rea, TV presenter Paul Heiny and Ipswich Town Chairman David Sheepshanks have joined Hillcroft preparatory school in Haughley Green in giving their unreserved support.

More than 135 staff, pupils and friends of the school near Stowmarket, have also signed up.

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.

The newspaper is planning to present the petition to the Home Office in a bid to keep the stud farm open.

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