A neglected horse believed to be the cousin of champion racehorse Desert Orchid is looking for a new home - after gaining more than 160 kg.

Cressida was discovered starving and emaciated along with three other horses in a field near Salisbury.

The horses were rescued by animal welfare charity HorseWorld, which is based in Bristol, in May 2011.

Staff at the charity carefully rehabilitated Cressida, taking her from an "underweight shell of a horse" at just 445 kg to fighting fit at 608 kg - a gain equivalent to more than 25 stone.

A previous owner of the mare informed staff that her bloodline traces a relationship with champion racehorse Desert Orchid, who won 34 races and had winnings of more than GBP650,000.

Cressida is now in peak condition and looking for a new loan home.

Jerry Watkins, director of equine welfare at HorseWorld, said: "She has made an amazing recovery.

"Her determined mindset may have come from her famous cousin and has helped her on the road to recovery.

"Without HorseWorld's help it is not clear what would have happened to these animals.

"The owner of the horses has now been prosecuted for neglect."

HorseWorld rescues, rehabilitates and rehomes abandoned, neglected and mistreated horses, ponies and donkeys.

It is responsible for more than 140 horses on site in Whitchurch in Bristol and has more than 300 on loan in the South West region.