Stranded baa-aay the floods

Firefighters launched a rescue mission after 70 ewes and lambs were left stranded by floodwater in Shropshire.

Crews were called to Lea Cross in Pontesbury just after 7am yesterday. The animals got into trouble in a field following the heavy rainfall over the weekend.
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One pump from Minsterley, a pump, boat and the incident commander from Shrewsbury and the rescue tender from Wellington were sent to the scene.

A spokesman for the Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service said: “This incident involved 35 ewes and 35 lambs stranded in water in a field.

“We have been to a couple of livestock rescues recently but probably not on this scale.”

Farmer Bernie Fowles, who keeps the animals on a rented field near the Rea brook, said: “They were all OK. They are all in another field now.”

Tudor Bebb, county councillor for the area, who lives in Lea Cross, said he could not come out of his house because of floods. He said: “It was about a foot deep on the road.”

Picture: Shropshire Fire and Rescue