Neknomination: Police investigate after woman rides horse into Tesco for latest controversial challenge

Inky Ralph, 21, said she thought it was 'just harmless fun' and that she had since received messages from as far afield as Australia

Police said they were investigating after a woman rode a horse into a Tesco store in Durham (YouTube)

A woman is being investigated by police after she rode a horse into a branch of Tesco and downed a Pepsi Max as part of a “Neknomination” challenge.

The craze sweeping the internet sees social media users post videos of themselves drinking while carrying out stunts – but it has come in for criticism after the death of a teenager in Ireland was linked to the game.

Video footage posted to YouTube showed Inky Ralph, 21, riding her horse Harvey into a Tesco store in Bishop Auckland, County Durham.

As she enters the shop, Ms Ralph is confronted by a security guard and an announcement calling for the duty manager can be heard.

Remaining on horseback, she drinks from a bottle of Pepsi Max before turning to the camera and nominating her friends – and then the security guard – to complete their own challenge and not “let her down”.

The video ends as Ms Ralph rides out of the store, with an employee shouting: “Are you going to pay for that?”

Speaking to the Northern Echo newspaper, Ms Ralph said: “It was something nobody else had done. It was just harmless fun. Everybody seems to find it really funny.

“I didn't realise how far it would spread and how many people would see it. I have had messages from as far as Australia and people are calling me a legend.”

But Durham police are now arranging to have those involved attend their local station, and said they were speaking to the RSPCA to establish what, if any, offences had been committed.

Chief Inspector Sue Robinson, of Durham Constabulary, said: “On Monday afternoon police were called by staff at the Tesco store in St Helen Auckland reporting a number of young women had been in the premises, with one of them riding a horse. They allegedly threatened a member of staff before leaving a few minutes later.

“Officers have viewed the in-store security footage as well as the video clip which has been circulating on social media. Those involved are believed to be well-known to both staff at the store and to ourselves and we will be arranging for them to attend their local police station at the earliest opportunity.

“At this stage we are trying to establish what criminal offences might have been committed and discussions have taken place with the RSPCA in regards to the welfare of the horse.

“It goes without saying this was a senseless and foolish thing to do. There were a number of shoppers in the store at the time and it is fortunate no one was hurt.”

A spokesman for Tesco said: “We are aware of the incident and the police are investigating.”

Additional reporting by PA