TRIBUTES have been paid to popular shire horse Big Jack who has died aged 23.

Big Jack, who died last week, had been a favourite at Smithills Open Farm for 12 years and the farm’s staff are said to be “gutted” by the loss.

Living up to his name, Big Jack stood at an impressive 6ft 3ins tall.

Louise Blundell, who is a part of the management team at the farm, said: “I think people remember him because people didn’t realise that a horse could be that big.

"Even for a shire horse he was huge.”

She added: “It’s really nice that so many people loved him and that he had such an impact. He was a big attention seeker. If he wasn’t getting attention he would be banging on the gates.

"Some big horses don’t have a big character but he did have a big character. If he didn’t want to come in from the fields, he would run away and you would have to try and catch him.”

Visitors to the family-run farm have posted pictures of Big Jack and left messages of condolence on the farm’s Facebook page.

Julie Brogan left her tribute to Big Jack saying that the “farm won’t be same without that beautiful boy” while Jenny Castle said he will "never be forgotten”.

The farm is asking visitors to send in their photos of Big Jack in order to create a memorial board by the farm’s fields.