7,000 chickens die in lorry fire

7,000 chickens were killed in the blaze near Magherafelt

Seven thousand chickens have been killed after a fire broke out in a lorry near Magherafelt.

The blaze, which is believed to have started accidentally, happened on the Moneymore Road on Wednesday morning.

Most of the chickens died in the fire, but some were so badly injured that they had to be put down.

David Wilson from the USPCA said it was the largest loss of life among livestock in Northern Ireland for many years.

"The USPCA commends our colleagues in the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service for their efforts to contain the blaze and limit the losses.

"Whilst there were no survivors, their intervention relieved the suffering of many trapped birds," he said.