Fuengirola Town Hall has launched an investigation after a horse-drawn carriage overturned in the town centre earlier this week, injuring two people.

The incident happened at around 3.35pm on Tuesday, August 4, when the horse pulling the carriage became startled before bolting through the streets.

Responding to the Spanish Eye, the town hall said the carriage was not carrying passengers nor operating at the time of the crash.

The ayuntamiento said the horse first began trotting near Plaza Reyes Catolicos before becoming uncontrollable at the traffic lights where Avenida Condes de San Isidro meets Avenida de la Estacion.

The carriage then overturned before colliding with a lorry and a moped that were waiting at a red light in the opposite lane.

Officials described the crash as ‘more spectacular than serious’, confirming that the two people injured suffered only minor injuries.

The council said an investigation was opened immediately after the incident to establish exactly what caused the horse to bolt.

It also confirmed that Fuengirola has municipal rules prohibiting or restricting horse-drawn carriages during official high-temperature weather alerts issued by state weather agency, Aemet.

According to the town hall, these restrictions form part of a decree issued by its Health Department under Spain’s Animal Welfare Law.

At the time of the crash, the Costa del Sol was under an orange alert for extreme heat.

It came as terral winds were sending temperatures soaring to as high as 40C.

The town hall did not comment on whether the driver of the horse carriage had been fined or sanctioned.

Read more Andalucia news at the Spanish Eye.