50 birds dead after fire rips through Wirral allotments

A fire which broke out at a Wirral allotments has left dozens of pigeons dead and livestock running for cover.

The blaze, at allotments off Hoylake Road in Bidston, ripped through multiple wooden sheds and pigeon lofts before being brought under control by fire fighters.

Crews from Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service arrived as plumes of smoke could be seen above the site.

Five fire engines attended to tackle the blaze at the allotments, which holds a mixture of agricultural and livestock plots.

Speaking to the ECHO at the scene, allotment-holder John Walton, who is also a local resident, said after tending to his pigeons all morning, he had just left the site and arrived home for lunch when he got a call to say his shed was on fire.

He rushed down to the scene to discover that half of his pigeons, totalling over 50, had perished in the blaze.

Another allotment holder, who asked not to be named, said he was at the allotment tending to his ducks, rabbits and guinea pigs when the fire took hold.

He said: "It just went up so fast, thick black smoke. The ducks, rabbits and guinea pigs they ran under the sheds to take cover from the smoke, thankfully they were all alright.

"There are chickens here too and they were running about in a panic. The smoke was just so dense."

Another, who also didn't want to be named, had tried to rescue his pigeons before fire crew arrived and ushered people away from the scene.