FIREMEN called to a barn fire in Ogwell had to work round two dozen piglets, their concerned mums, three ponies and 18 cows and a calf which had been released from the burning building.

The fire at Tor Haven Farm is thought to have started after a heat lamp was upset by one of the larger pigs, setting straw on fire.

Farmer and lorry driver Desmond Gale discovered the blaze when he got up for work at 4am on Monday.

'I opened the back door to let the dogs out and thought what's that noise? I put my boots on and went round the corner and the shed was on fire. I ran down, opened all the gates and let the animals out into the yard.'

He threw the contents of the water trough onto the flames then rang the fire service.

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