SOME 5,000 chickens have been killed in a fire at Holcombe Rogus. Both fire crews from Wellington were called after the alarm was raised at 12.14pm on Sunday.

Fire fighters from Cullompton and Danes Castle were also involved, and it took two hours to bring the blaze in a poultry shed at Ridgeway Farm under control. Breath- ing sets were used to protect firemen from the heat and smell. The cause of the blaze has yet to be identified.