BBC News | UK | Pigeons killed in allotment fire

A pigeon fancier in Hartlepool has lost most of his birds for the second time after a fire at his allotment sheds in Hartlepool.

Sixty pigeons were burnt alive in the suspected arson attack on six sheds at the Brierton Hospital allotment site on Sunday evening.

Edward Wilkins, who breeds valuable birds for racing and showing, lost more than 20 of his stock when youths set his sheds alight in March last year.

Tommy Johnson, secretary of the Brierton allotment association, said: "Mr Wilkins is devastated. He'd only just replaced his stock."

The mentality of the people who did this beggars belief

Jim Wilson, Hartlepool Borough Council
Several other allotment holders managed to rescue 20 birds in the latest incident before they were joined by a fire crew.

The fire was spotted by David Woodhouse and Ian Small, who climbed a barbed wire fence and forced their way into the sheds to release the pigeons.

Cleveland Fire Brigade is planning to recommend the men for a bravery award.

Hartlepool Borough Council allotments officer Jim Wilson described the scene of the fire as " mass of charcoal".

He added: "I feel annoyance and horror and shock.

"We can derive only a slight amount of pleasure from the rescue of some of the birds. The mentality of the people who did this beggars belief."


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