A RIDER and her horse narrowly escaped serious injury in Harpenden last week when two boys threw bangers into their path.

The duo were hid in an alleyway as the rider and horse came up Broadstone Road at around 4.30pm on Monday February 13.

As they passed, the boys, aged between nine and 12, threw the bangers on the road from their hiding place just past Barrons Row.

PC Emma Collins said it was an extremely dangerous thing to do that could have left both the rider and the horse seriously hurt or killed.

She added: “Luckily, both were ok but the rider was very shaken by the incident which badly spooked her horse. However, it could have been a very different story and the boys would have been in very serious trouble.”

The police are now looking to trace the boys and their parents to explain the consequences of their actions.

One of the boys was wearing a very distinctive orange puffa-style coat and the other had a similar coat in navy with green flashing on it.

Anyone with information can call the police on the non-emergency number 101.