A FARM boss has thanked his staff and fire crews after they rescued nearly a thousand pigs from floodwater.

Simon Dunn, who manages the farm at Keldholme near Kirkbymoorside, said he wanted to extend his thanks after rescue efforts - which started just after 9am on Wednesday this week, continued until one o’clock the following morning.

He said the flooding had been caused when internal drainage systems failed to cope with a torrent of water after heavy rainfall.

He said the animals at one end of the piggery had been up to their necks in water - but added that all 900 pigs were saved, with not one fatality, and they were now “happy and back to normal.”

Fire crews from Kirkbymoorside, Malton, Helmsley and Pickering all attended the incident to pump water from the building and move the animals.

Farm staff started the rescue at around 9.30am, with fire crews from Kirkbymoorside being called out at 11.36am.

A fire service spokesperson said that they were then joined by Pickering crews.

At around 1pm fire crews from Malton joined the incident, and by 3.30pm Helmsley crews were also helping with the pumping.

Crews used two main pumps and three light pumps to remove the floodwater and also aided farm staff with moving the pigs to pens.