Blaze at chicken factory tackled

Staff were evacuated from the factory

The Fire and Rescue Service has tackled a blaze at the Moy Park chicken factory in Moira, County Down.

The fire was reported at about midday on Friday and 35 firefighters and seven appliances helped put out the fire.

Workers had to be evacuated after a fire broke out in an oven, which spread to the roof space.

The Fire and Rescue Service said a well rehearsed emergency plan helped contain the fire in a small area and saved the factory from being totally destroyed.

Group commander John Allen said this was among a number of factors which helped save the factory.

"In the past within the food processing industries some of the premises of a similar nature to this have been totally destroyed within 30 to 40 minutes of a fire breaking out," he said.

"So therefore prompt action is essential if we are going to have a chance of saving the building and those jobs."