WESTBURY’s iconic White Horse has almost been restored to its former glory after a big clean took place at the weekend.

One of Wiltshire's most recognisable landmarks was cleaned by a team of around 25 volunteers, who braved the steep decline of the hill to give the horse its first clean since 2012.

The clean was organised by Westbury Rotary Club and was arranged to give the horse a fresh look before the lighting of the beacon, which will take place tomorrow (April 21).

Organiser of the event and Rotarian Steve Carrington said: "The clean really well, we achieved our goal of getting all of the dirt off.

“We had a few hitches along the way, though. On Saturday morning there had been so much rain which meant that when we got there, we couldn’t get the vehicle carrying the equipment across the field, but luckily someone stepped up and saved the day with their Land Rover.

“On Sunday morning we ran out of water, but a nearby farmer took some water up to us in his tractor, so it was a real community effort.

“While it’s great that the White Horse is clean for the lighting of the beacon, there’s a more long-term benefit to Westbury here, as the landmark can be seen for miles so it’s nice to have it looking so clean.

“The biggest challenge was finding enough volunteers, as giving up time at the weekend is a big thing, but luckily we managed it and they were all brilliant.

“For a team of volunteers to be allowed to work on a national monument is quite an unusual thing, so we would like to say a big thank you to English Heritage for their support.”

Attached by harnesses, the volunteers abseiled down the hill and used pressure washers to blast the dirt off on Saturday and Sunday.

Deputy mayor Stephen Andrews said: “I would like to say a big thank you to everyone who cleaned the White Horse over the weekend, they did a fantastic job.

“They were lucky with the weather and they made the most of it by making the horse look absolutely splendid.

“It really needed a good clean and it will add to the spectacle of the beacon being lit, which is set to be a magnificent event."

Later this year, the horse will be repainted and the cracks will be sealed to further enhance its appearance and longevity.