ABOUT 30 chickens were killed and hundreds of others left stranded on the roadside when a lorry lost part of its load.

The driver of the lorry failed to stop when he negotiated a roundabout on Neasham Road in Darlington, near to the new football stadium.

About 25 crates fell off the lorry when the accident happened at 1.55am on Monday.

RSPCA officer Garry Palmer said: "Some of them died excruciating deaths and it really broke my heart to see them.

"The driver just continued but you can't lose that many crates and not be aware.

"He must have known there was something wrong when he went down the road too fast."

The RSPCA believes the lorry's load was insecure and is considering prosecuting the North Yorkshire firm on the basis of causing unneccessary suffering to the birds.

Some of the chickens became trapped when the crates fell, while others were crushed by other birds.

The lorry was traveling from Dalton to Scotland and was on the A66 when the accident happened.

Police were called to the scene and called out the RSPCA to rescue those birds that had been injured or had survived the accident.

Mr Palmer said: "We want any witnesses to this accident to come forward because we want to find out why the driver didn't stop."

Anyone with information can call the RSPCA on 08705 555999.