Farmer offers thanks after 1,600 pigs moved following major Albrighton shed fire

A farmer has offered his thanks after more than 1,500 pigs were saved when a fire broke out in a straw shed.

A total of 14 fire crews were scrambled to the incident at Upper Pepperhill Farm, Boningale, near Albrighton, yesterday, with the emergency services alerted at around 11.25am.

The blaze involved a large shed containing straw, but the blaze posed a significant risk to pigs housed in two nearby sheds.

A total of 1,600 pigs were in the buildings at the time, and what followed was a major operation to ensure the safety of the animals.

Rob Mercer, who has farmed at the site since 2020, said the blaze started shortly before midday, adding that he has no idea of the cause.

He described the incident as extremely stressful, saying there was significant concern over the potential for the fire to spread to the neighbouring buildings, with catastrophic prospects for the pigs.

But he explained that thanks to the efforts of the fire service, fellow farmers who turned up to help, and hauliers who answered the call at short notice, they were able to complete a major operation to get the animals to safety.

Faced with a significant blaze he said they had first managed to corral the pigs into fields before moving them onto wagons to be transported somewhere else.

He said: “They are all fine this morning, we are incredibly lucky.”

Mr Mercer, 46, said he was concerned at whether they would be able to complete the mission, saying: “It was a very stressful, difficult day, but we had guys, livestock hauliers we have not met before and I phoned them up and they came and helped, we had local farmers help and the fire service were just amazing.”

Mr Mercer said the relocation operation was completed around 11pm yesterday - just under 12 hours after the blaze started.

He said: “It could have been an awful day but all the pigs are okay and that is the main thing. We had a straw shed full of bales and that has obviously gone but I think the pig sheds are okay.”

He added: “The only reason it was not worse is because everyone pulled together, it was a very good effort from everyone - the fire service and everyone to manage to save all the animals and get them all moved.”

He continued: “As hard work and as stressful as it was it was very heart-warming to know that people care and turn out to help.”

The incident comes as the county has been hit by a series of major fires in recent weeks, with fire crews being called to deal with a number of wild fires.

The exceptionally dry conditions have created an environment where fires can easily spread, with the public warned not to do anything which may risk starting a blaze.