Investigation After Farm Fire

Investigators are looking into the cause of a huge fire which broke out at a chicken farm near Cranbrook yesterday, leaving thousands of chickens dead.

Crews were called to the site in Frittenden just after 11am, following reports of a fire in outbuildings.

Local residents reported hearing an explosion and seeing plumes of thick black smoke.

They were urged to keep their windows and doors shot. Passing drivers were also told to avoid using air condition or their heating vents in the area.

At its height 50 firefighters were battling the flames, and a team was still at the scene this morning, after spending the night damping down and using thermal imaging equipment to check for hotspots.

There are no reports of any injuries to staff.

Two hen barns are believed to have been so badly damaged they will have to be demolished.