Twenty chickens die in allotment arson attack

About 20 chickens are believed to have died in an allotment arson attack in West Yorkshire which has left owners "devastated".

Fire crews were called to the scene at Westfield Allotments on Nunroyd in Heckmondwike just before 23:15 BST on Sunday.

Richard Terry, who has an allotment on the site, said: "It was just awful - if you just imagine it - chickens are there in a shed, locked away to be safe from foxes at nighttime, and they've just been burnt alive inside - it's just horrendous."

West Yorkshire Police confirmed an arson investigation was under way and appealed for witnesses to contact them.

West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service (WYFRS) said the blaze had damaged a 540 sq ft (50 sq m) area around a shed.

Terry, who runs a company that makes honey and beeswax products and keeps bees at the site, said the fire was extinguished before it reached his allotment.

Terry said he was woken up at about 23:00 BST by a neighbour who thought it was their allotment on fire.

He said the scene when he arrived at the allotments was "proper roaring".

A memorial bench placed there in memory of the wife of one of the allotment keepers had also been destroyed, he explained.

Dale Clarkson, who also has an allotment at the site, said the owner of the allotment where the chickens had died was extremely upset.

"He's devastated, yes, very disheartened. It takes a lot of time and effort to make your allotment how you want it."

Clarkson said owners were trying to raise funds for the two allotment keepers affected.

He said the damage was "huge" and would cost thousands of pounds to put right, adding that a large tree burnt in the blaze would also need to be removed.

Meanwhile, Doreen Smithson, whose garden backs on to the allotments, said her large summer house had been destroyed in the blaze.

"It's absolutely devastating," she said.

"We've done all this to settle down, you know getting older, and you're faced with this."

Smithson said the summer house was a favourite with her grandchildren.

"We've got granddaughters that like to come down and play in it - like a playhouse - and we've got teenage grandsons that like to come and watch TV and bring friends round," she said.

"It's just a communal space for everybody to use.

"It's the devastation of clearing it all up and sorting it all out, really.

"When somebody pointed out that the fence had started burning in that corner and it could have come all the way [to the bungalow] then you realise it could have been a lot more serious."

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