ALMOST 500 piglets were rescued by firefighters but several vehicles and buildings were destroyed when a massive blaze broke out on a North Yorkshire farm.

North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service said the fire at a property in Aldwark Village Street, Aldwark, between Boroughbridge and Easingwold, was believed to have been caused by a fault on a JCB's telescopic handler.

A spokeswoman said the fire spread to four agricultural buildings containing 500 piglets, most of which were rescued by firefighters, although six died.

Three tractors, a fork lift, a car trailer and a hedge trimmer tractor, which were also in the buildings, were completely destroyed.

Three of the buildings were completely destroyed and the fourth was badly damaged.

Firefighters from Easingwold, Boroughbridge, York and Acomb tackled the blaze, which started at 9am yesterday.