AROUND 80 pigs died when their barn caught fire on Wednesday morning.

The animals were housed in a barn in Yedingham near Malton where a blaze started just before 11am.

Firefighters from Malton, Pickering and Sherburn answered the 999 call and did their best to save the animals’ lives.

They used farm machinery as well as two hose reel jets and six sets of breathing apparatus from their own equipment.

But despite the efforts of North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, about 80 pigs died before the firefighters were able to put out the flames and declare the area safe.