ANIMALS had to be led to safety as a fire destroyed a barn on a Hampshire farm.
Seven young calves and 20 pigs were rescued as fire crews battled the blaze at Grove Farm in Hedge End.
After 12 hours of effort, all that remained of the building were a few scorched posts and some smouldering straw.
Paul Crawford, who owns Grove Farm, off Upper Northam Drive, said this was the third hay-related fire he had suffered in five years.
The 25m by 25m barn, which was used to store hay and straw, was well alight when firefighters arrived.
As reported yesterday, a crew from St Mary’s, Redbridge and two from Hightown attended the call out at 11.35pm on Wednesday.
Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service said the cause was not yet known, but they were not treating it as suspicious.
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