A pioneering project is aiming to reduce the suffering experienced by horses struck down by grass sickness.

Researchers from the University of Liverpool, the University of Edinburgh, the Animal Health Trust (AHT) and the Equine Grass Sickness Fund are teaming up to collect data on the disease.

In order to gather as much information as possible on the devastating condition, the scientists are calling for horse lovers and medical experts who have knowledge of the syndrome to come forward.

Georgette Kluiters, from the AHT, said: "We're appealing to owners whose horses have suffered with the illness, or vets who have treated horses with the illness at any time throughout the year, to let us know."

In addition to finding possible treatments for the disease, the team aim to investigate potential vaccines.

The AHT stated that grass sickness is likely to be caused by a toxin in soil, which affects equines' nervous systems.