MORE than 1,200 people have backed a campaign urging Thames Valley Police to retain its ‘iconic’ mounted section.

A petition calling on the force to keep its horses was set up last month and is quickly gathering support.

At a recent budget meeting, at which the unit faced being scrapped in its entirety by 2019, it was spared – but a review of its long-term future continues.

Chief Constable Francis Habgood, speaking after the meeting, said: “We are still reviewing our operational requirements for a mounted section and the financial implications, but no decisions have been made about its long term future.

“I can confirm that we have no intention to remove our mounted section before Ascot 2019 at the earliest.

“I continue to receive representations from officers and stakeholders about alternative means of funding this iconic service and a full range of options will be considered over the coming year.”

The man behind the petition to save the unit, which can be seen conducting crowd control at Kassam Stadium for Oxford United’s big games and local derbies, lives in Hackney, London.

Michael Kenworthy keeps an eye on police forces throughout the country and was moved by the plight of Thames Valley Police’s mounted section.

The petition is available online at bit.ly/2EO9efr