Firefighters tackle huge chicken shed blaze near Oswestry

Forty-two firefighters, five fire engines, a water carrier, a water bowser and four officers tackled the fire which broke out at the farm in Middleton early today.

It is not clear how much damage was caused or how many chickens died in the blaze, which broke out in a conveyor belt in the building's roof.

David Woollam, one of the farm's owners, said: "At the moment we do not know what the damage is as we have not yet been able to get inside."

The fire service was called at 7.54am and the fire was under control by about 9.15am.