Around 140 straw bales were set on fire, which were worth around £10,000. | Photo: The Pink Pig Farm
Some 140 hay bales worth around £10,000 used to keep pigs warm at night were destroyed in an alleged arson attack at a farm attraction in Scunthorpe.
The owner of The Pink Pig Farm Sally Jackson went to the site on Holme Lane where there are around 400 pigs and piglets, after being alerted to the fire at around 6.15pm on Friday, February 26.
Humberside Police said they are investigating the reported arson after they attended the scene. The officers have been following up a number of lines of enquiry to determine those responsible.
Due to its location the fire was allowed to burn out under the supervision of the farmer. Fortunately, no animals or people were injured.
This is the second suspected arson at the farm during lockdown after another incident last year.
Sally told The Lincolnite: “It was a big blaze around the height of up to the eaves of a two-storey house.
“The fire brigade came down and monitored the blaze to make sure it wasn’t going to spread. They felt it could naturally burn out and this took a few days.
“The pigs were no more than 100 metres from the fire. They had a very lucky escape. Had it been dry and windy they could have been in real danger.
“I thought ‘not again’, it is such a worry and I honestly don’t think the teenagers know the kind of devastation it can cause. We just want to stop people doing it as arsonists get a taste for it and keep doing it until they are stopped.”
The Pink Pig farm said these photos were taken just before the fire and is urging anyone who recognises those pictured to email [email protected]
Humberside Police is urging anyone who has not yet spoken to them who may have information to call 101 quoting log number 542 of February 26.
The farmers who own the pigs now need to source more straw and the cafe continues to open for an hour a day for takeaway coffee.
Sally also thanked people for spreading the message, being proactive and raising money for the farm, with any donations being passed directly to the farmers. A fundraiser set up by Candice Priest has raised over £650 by the time of publication.
The Pink Pig Farm will reopen again fully for business on April 12, including the indoor and outdoor play areas, two cafes and the animal trail where visitors can get up close and personal to the pigs.
Booking online is essential with tickets costing £8 per person.
Sally added: “We cannot wait to see people back again. We’ve been eligible for a grant and been really careful and cut our overheads.”
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There have been 88 new coronavirus cases in Greater Lincolnshire and one COVID-related death on Monday as restrictions eased across the UK as part of the PM’s roadmap out of lockdown.
The government’s COVID-19 dashboard on April 12 recorded 58 new cases in Lincolnshire, 16 in North East Lincolnshire and 14 in North Lincolnshire.
On Monday, one death was recorded in Lincolnshire and none in Northern Lincolnshire. This figure includes deaths both in and out of hospitals, as well as residents in hospitals outside the county.
NHS England reported no changes to the hospital death figures across the region, which still stands at 1,300 from a week ago.
Nationally, cases increased by 3,568 to 4,373,343, while deaths rose by 13 to 127,100.
In local news, North Kesteven has the most over 50s vaccinated with the first dose of a COVID-19 jab in Lincolnshire, whereas Boston has the least.
However, South Kesteven has the most 18 to 49 year olds vaccinated in Greater Lincolnshire with Lincoln having the least, according to research by Sky News.
There were 398 coronavirus cases in Greater Lincolnshire and 10 COVID-related deaths last week — a 43% drop in cases and 23% fewer deaths compared to the previous week.
Hundreds of people queued outside Debenhams and at several barbers and salons in the city as Lincoln, and the rest of England, entered the next stage of the roadmap out of coronavirus lockdown on Monday, April 12. The pubs and bars had a good day too.
The latest rules allow for the retail sector to fully reopen its doors for customers again, two weeks after the previous lockdown easing on March 29 which resumed outdoor socialising for up to six people – see the list of rules here.
Coronavirus data for Greater Lincolnshire on Monday, April 12
Greater Lincolnshire includes Lincolnshire and the unitary authorities of North and North East (Northern) Lincolnshire.
58,722 cases (up 88)
40,909 in Lincolnshire (up 58)
9,226 in North Lincolnshire (up 14)
8,587 in North East Lincolnshire (up 16)
2,182 deaths (up one)
1,610 from Lincolnshire (up one)
304 from North Lincolnshire (no change)
268 from North East Lincolnshire (no change)
of which 1,300 hospital deaths (no change)
808 at United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust (no change)
41 at Lincolnshire Community Health Service hospitals (no change)
1 at Lincolnshire Partnership Foundation Trust (no change)
450 in Northern Lincolnshire (NLAG) (no change)
4,373,343 UK cases, 127,100 deaths
DATA SOURCE — FIGURES CORRECT AT THE TIME OF THE LATEST UPDATE. POSTCODE DATA INCLUDES DEATHS NOT IN HEALTHCARE FACILITIES OR IN HOSPITALS OUTSIDE AUTHORITY BOUNDARIES.