A THOUSAND battery hens died when fire raged through a cabin at an egg production farm.

A passing motorist alerted firefighters to the blaze at Petre Eggs, Newby Farm, off Whalley Road, Wilpshire.

Two crews from Great Harwood battled for more than two hours late on Saturday night to save around 2,000 birds and prevent the fire from spreading to four other cabins.

Station officer Jack Anderson said: "When we arrived the hen cabin was well alight. When we realised it was full of chickens we did all we could to keep the smoke away from them.

"It wasn't a pretty sight as many of the birds had been burned before we got there. We just had to concentrate on saving the others."

A major rescue operation, mounted by the RSPCA in the early hours, continued throughout the day. A vet and animal welfare officer from Lancashire County Council were also drafted in.

RSPCA inspector Chris Heyworth said: "This is the worst incident my colleagues and I have ever seen. If it hadn't been for the quick and efficient work of the fire brigade it could have been even more of a disaster."

Mr Gary Anforth, who runs the business with his partner, said: "We are still in shock and trying to assess the damage but it won't put us out of business. It was a horrendous scene which I can only describe as a bloodless slaughterhouse."

The fire brigade suspect the blaze was sparked by an electrical fault in one of the shed's extractor fans.

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