Cows put down after barn hay fire

More than 40 cows have had to be destroyed despite efforts to save them from a barn fire in north Devon in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Firefighters managed to release the cows who were examined by a vet who decided they had to be put down.

The cause of the blaze in the building at Tamerstone Bridge, Pancrasweek is still unclear.

However it is believed to have started in a tractor before spreading to 300 bales of hay.

Sub Officer Bob Morrison from Torrington said: "Two off-duty police officers were the first ones to discover the fire.

"They were coming home from an evening out when they saw the smoke and they tried to rescue the cows but they couldn't open the gate because it was padlocked.

"The Holsworthy crew arrived and dealt with the gate and let the cows out."