DOZENS of firefighters tackled a devastating barn fire in north Dorset which killed and injured animals.

A lightning strike has not been ruled out as the cause for the fire at Spire Hill Farm on Cooks Lane in Thornhill, Stalbridge early yesterday.

Dorset Fire and Rescue Service said there were about 80 sheep in the barn. Sixty of them were rescued by firefighters while 20 perished in the fire.

The fire completely destroyed the Dutch barn, which also contained 500 tonnes of straw and hay. An investigation is underway into the cause of the fire, which also caused power failure to at least one nearby property.

Crews remained at the farm for several hours to control the blaze, which also gripped numerous hay bales.

A spokesman for Dorset Fire and Rescue Service said: “Some sheep and lambs died in a large Dutch barn fire in Stalbridge.

“Around 45 firefighters attended the scene just after 4.30am on Thursday morning.”

The spokesman added: “The cause of this fire will be investigated when it is safe to enter the area, which was almost completely destroyed by the ferocious heat.

“It may well be that we will never find out what caused it but lightning has not been ruled out.”

The livestock belonged to farmer Rob Selway, who was unavailable for comment.