Potato farm near Whitchurch closed after barn fire but animals 'all happy and well'
A Shropshire family-run farm has confirmed no one was harmed in a barn fire over the weekend.
The team at J Lea & Son Steele Farm Potatoes has announced that it will be temporarily closed to members of the public until it is "safe and secure" to open.
Crews from Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service were called to the farm at Steele, south of Whitchurch, at 1.34pm yesterday to reports of a barn fire, staying at the site for four hours.
Upon arrival, they found one barn measuring 80 metres by 50 metres on fire.
Nine fire service vehicles including the aerial ladder platform, the incident command unit, the incident support unit, the light pumping unit and the water carrier were sent from Baschurch, Bridgnorth, Hodnet, Market Drayton, Shrewsbury, Telford and Whitchurch.
Operations, hazmat and safety officers, Western Power and a utility company were also in attendance.
A spokesperson for J Lea & Son Steele Potatoes said: "We are sad to announce that the reported local barn fire yesterday was ourselves.
"We are all devastated by this but we can report that we are all safe and well and that all the animals on the farm are all happy and well and have been temporarily rehoused until it is safe for them to come home.
"As soon as the building is safe and secure for us to re open we will be back up and running.
"We thank you all for all your well wishes and offer of help."
