TWENTY pigs and two horses died following a fire at a small-holding in the early hours of this morning.
The blaze broke out at a livestock shed at Whinside, Good Street Estate, Tanfield, near Stanley, County Durham.
Firefighters were called at 2.20am but were unable access the site directly and had to haul hoses down paths and over rubble.
District fire manager Keith Wanley said: "The crews did a great job in tackling the fire but have found this very distressing."
The site belongs to Wayne Slowther, 50, who hand rears pig for sale to the meat industry.
He said: "There is no doubt in my mind that this was started deliberately.
"I cannot describe how upsetting this is."
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