The attackers smashed metal gates and even dug up some concrete flags, as well as taking down paddock fences which left the 21 horses who live at Albert's Horse Sanctuary, off South Lane, Cawthorne, all running terrified around the same field.

Mary Hepworth, who runs the animal charity, said: "We do have some machinery and tractor within the sanctuary and if they had pulled down fences to drive the machinery away it would have made some sense.

"But they haven't stolen any machinery, they haven't stolen anything, they have just gone on a trail of destruction and we don't know why.

"They have damaged fences, metal gates, part of the stables- it's a right mess.

"The horses were segregated for a reason, some don't get on with others they are kept apart for their own good.

"But when we got here, all the horses were together and some got badly kicked by others.

"I have got 30-year-old Molly here, she's an old horse and needs to be kept quiet. She had a young foal running up and down against her.

"All the horses have been upset, many have been kicked by others in the panic and we are left looking at all this damage and wondering why on earth anyone would do this."

Police are appealing for information from anyone who saw anything suspicious at the sanctuary between 7pm on Wednesday night and 9am in Thursday morning. Call 01226 736030.

It is not the first time vandals have cost the charity. In April, its shop in Greenside, Staincross, was damaged when someone torched donated items that had been left in black plastic sacks outside the shop.

More than £500 of damage was caused but, devastatingly for Mary, the insurance only covered fixtures and fittings inside the shop, not the external door.

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