Archive - Wednesday, 15 January 2003


Find by date

Other ways to search

Also look for

Never miss anything again. Sign up for our RSS news feeds and Newsletters.

Lucky pigs save their bacon

HUNDREDS of pigs had a lucky escape after a shed burned down the day they were due to moved in.

West Heslerton farmer Derek Watson, former NFU county chairman, had cleared out the piggery, and heaters had been switched on to dry it out.

But hours before he started moving in 600 ten-week-old piglets, firefighters were called out to tackle a fierce blaze.

Assistant divisional officer Daniel Westmoreland said ten firefighters spent almost three hours tackling the blaze.

"When the two crews arrived from Sherburn and Snainton, they found that it was well alight," he said.

"Their task was to contain the fire to the side of the building which had already been engulfed in flames, and stop it spreading to the other half.

"We believe the cause was accidental, and was down to a faulty propane gas heater which was being used on the premises," he added.

Mr Watson said it was a relief the animals had not yet been moved to the building.

"Fortunately the building in question is really in two rooms, and one half does not have too much damage to it.

"I don't know where we are going - it gives us a logistical problem about where we put the pigs.

"They can stay where they are for now for perhaps another week, but then we do need some more pigs weaning."

Mr Watson said he might be able to house some of the animals - which need to be kept on the farm for another two months - in other sheds which were currently filled with straw.

Some of the pigs might also go to nearby farm buildings if neighbouring farms could accommodate them, he added.

On Christmas Eve between 80 to 100 sows died when the sheds they were in caught fire on a farm outside Helmsley.

Updated: 10:03 Wednesday, January 15, 2003