Emmerdale stars Jenna-Louise Coleman, Matthew Wolfenden and Georgia Slowe have joined the fight to wipe out the terrible horse disease Strangles - by supporting a campaign run by The British Horse Society, Animal Health Trust and Puffa.

The Strangles Appeal was launched by HRH The Princess Royal in February – and is now being bolstered at the Royal International Horse Show at Hickstead by the launch of Strangles Appeal polo shirts.

Jenna-Louise, who plays Jasmine Thomas in the popular ITV soap, Matthew (David Metcalfe) and Georgia Slowe (Perdy Hyde-Sinclair) showed their support for the campaign by modelling the special polo shirts in The Woolpack, Emmerdale's famous pub.

Jenna-Louise Coleman said: "I am backing the Strangles Appeal because Strangles is a terrible disease that affects a lot of horses. It's essential that horse owners are aware of it."

Georgia Slowe said: "I work with horses a lot on the show and am aware that Strangles really is an awful, painful disease for horses. I fully support the Strangles Appeal."

Matthew Wolfenden said: "Horses are part of the heritage of the wildlife that surrounds Emmerdale. It's important to ensure they are cared for properly and checked out for diseases like Strangles that put their lives at risk."  

The partners in the Appeal are The British Horse Society, the Animal Health Trust, Puffa, and Horse & Hound. Puffa is giving £2 from every polo shirt sold to the Strangles Appeal. The initiative has also been backed by supermodel Jodie Kidd and her sister Jemma.  

The Strangles polo shirt will be launched in grand style at the BHS-owned Royal International Horse Show at Hickstead from 25-29 July on the Puffa, BHS and Horse & Hound stands. As well as buying the shirts, visitors will be encouraged to add donations.

The three shirts pictured have been autographed by the Emmerdale stars and will be auctioned on the BHS stand in aid of the Appeal.

In the meantime if you would like to give to this worthy cause, please make your cheque make payable to the Animal Health Trust and send it to: Strangles Appeal, The British Horse Society, Stoneleigh Deer Park, Kenilworth, Warwickshire CV8 2XZ.

If you would like promotional material and information to help in staging your own Strangles Campaign fundraising event, please contact the Animal Health Trust's Andrew Simmonds at andrew.simmonds@aht.org.uk or 08700 502380.