Staff and fire crews have been praised for their efforts to save animals after a large fire broke out at Mrs Dowson's Farm Park.

The fire was eventually brought under control in the early hours of Tuesday (March 13) by eight fire engines from Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service including a mobile command unit.

The popular attraction is set to reopen over the weekend following the blaze in the park's birthing barn.

Emergency services were called after nearly 40 tonnes of straw bales, used for bedding animals, caught fire late on Monday. 

Animals in near by buildings were evacuated into fields away as firefighters and the farmers tackled the blaze.

They used farm tractors to pull the stacks of straw bales away from the barns and buildings to be extinguished. 

The farm said spontaneous combustion in bales is a phenomenon that means they can ignite without an external heat source. 

Moisture content is said to be the main factor that causes hay and straw to spontaneously combust.

Hay fires are more common than straw fires, for reasons involving the type of forage, the moisture content in the stored forage, and heat production.

Lancashire Telegraph:
A spokesperson for Mrs Dowson's Farm Park said: "Yesterday (Tuesday) was one of the toughest days in the farm's long history. 

“The remarkable efforts from our family, farm team and the emergency services meant the fire was extinguished as quickly as possible.

"Farmers were able to evacuate lambs from the Lambing Live barn as well as the farm's own dairy herd to safety. 

“The work now begins on rebuilding animal pens and barns at the rear of the working farm, as well as relocating some of the 'Lambing Live' event which opened on March 9 and runs until May 19.

“The cause of the fire is currently unknown, but we will be working to investigate over the coming days and weeks.

"We would again, like to thank the emergency services for their swift response. "

In a statement, Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service said: "Eight fire engines from Preston, Blackburn, Hyndburn, Great Harwood, Leyland, Bamber Bridge and Fulwood, and the Aerial Ladder Platform, Command Unit and Water Bowser, attended at a commercial building on Longsight Road in Clayton-le-Dale. 

“Firefighters dealt with approximately 40 tonnes of hay that were well alight and used two breathing apparatus, two jets and two ground monitors to bring the fire under control.”

The Farm Park is scheduled to open as normal this weekend to visitors.

As well as Lambing Live, the farm also has an indoor play area, Easter activities and even goat yoga, plus the farm's famous ice cream.