A FATHER and son have rescued one of the 5,580 chickens involved in a crash on the A49 near Hereford, with a happy ending for the hen.

Emergency services were called to the A49 at Dinmore, between Hereford and Leominster, shortly after 9am on Thursday (July 1) to reports of an overturned lorry and fuel spill.
West Mercia Police said 5,580 live birds were being carried by the articulated lorry, and the road was shut until the next morning while Highways England did repairs.

Avara Foods, which has a processing factory in Red Barn Drive, Hereford, said the welfare of the chickens was its immediate priority, and a vet was at the scene.

The company refused to disclose how many animals were killed or injured in the crash, but there was, at least, one happy outcome.

The day after the crash, a chicken was rescued by a father and son on their way back from swimming in Leominster.

Oscar Herbosa and his son, Elias, noticed something in the verge on Dinmore Hill.

After stopping and discovering it was a chicken, Mr Herbosa wrapped the bird in a towel and took it home.

With vets unable to help, Mr Herbosa said: “We decided to keep the chicken at home and feed her. Our kids named her Betty. She slept the night inside our dog cage in the summer house.”

On Saturday, they were able to find a farm to take the chicken, saying it was a happy ending for Betty.