Livestock saved from Shropshire barn fire
Friday 20th August 2010, 10:37AM BST.
Tiny piglets, calves and a horse had to be rescued after flames ripped through a barn in Shropshire, causing an estimated £500,000 damage.
Two tractors, a baling machine and nearly 900 tonnes of wheat, straw and hay were destroyed as a result of the blaze at Four Crosses Farm in Cherrington, near Tibberton, which broke out just after 2am today.
The glow from the fire could be seen for miles around and 30 firefighters rescued five calves and 20 pigs – including eight newborn piglets.
The fire was still raging this morning and fire crews are expected to be there for at least 48 hours until it all dies out.
The farm is jointly-owned by brothers Stephen, Thomas and Roger Banks.
They were helped in the rescue operation by Andrew Crow, of neighbouring Cherrington Manor, and his two sons.
Stephen’s wife Jane, 44 said today: “We heard a loud bang shortly before 2.15am. Stephen thought it was a gun going off, it turned out to be a tyre exploding in the barn. We have CCTV in our bedroom so we were alerted to what was happening and phoned the fire brigade.
“About 10 minutes later Stephen was trying to shift stuff from the barn. Our daughter, son and my two brothers-in-law also helped try to shift stuff. One of Andrew’s sons carried one of the calves and put it in my front garden. My daughter carried another one and the fire service just put the other three over the fence into a field.”
She added: “The fire service were absolutely marvellous.”
Wellington fire station watch manager Craig Jackson said it is unclear how the fire started and an investigation has begun.
By Wayne Beese and Simon Hardy
UK News
Most Commented
- Clampdown on Shrewsbury chuggers
- Bishop's gay marriage views do nothing to support bible teachings
- Planners ordered to stay on Newport visit bus
- Letter: Angered by close encounter of the furred kind
- Letter: Alcohol price plans annoy me
- Shrewsbury’s broadband speed one of slowest in UK
- Letter: No sense in overseas job adverts
Shropshire Star on Twitter
Keep updated with the latest breaking news and content on our Twitter feed.
Lifestyle
Interactive Dining Out map
Hundreds of reviews by the Shropshire Star and Express & Star's teams to help you decide where to eat.
Entertainment
All the film reviews
Before you plan a trip to the pictures, get our critics' verdicts on all the latest movie releases.
OUR NEW APP
Get the new Shropshire Star app
Download the Shropshire Star’s new app to your iPad or iPhone to get one week of access to our digital newspapers absolutely FREE.
shropshirestar.com
Popular sections
Useful links
