AVARA Foods says its investigating the possible causes of a crash which saw one of its lorries carrying more than 5,500 birds overturn near Leominster.

Emergency services were called to the A49 at Dinmore, between Hereford and Leominster, shortly after 9am on Thursday to reports of an overturned lorry and fuel spill.

West Mercia Police later confirmed 5,580 live birds were being carried by the articulated lorry.

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Avara Foods, which has a chicken processing factory in Red Barn Drive in Hereford, said the chickens were its "immediate priority".

"We can confirm a truck carrying chickens overturned earlier today," a spokesperson for the company said.

"As live animals are involved our immediate priority is to take care of them, and there is a veterinarian at the scene assessing the birds.

"We are working with the police and highways to recover the vehicle in order to reopen the road as quickly as possible.

"The driver appears to be unhurt, but we are still investigating the possible causes of the incident, so there is little more that we can say at this time."

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Avara Foods refused to say how many birds were killed or injured.

Police said the road was expected to remain closed overnight on Thursday as work to repair barriers takes place, and resurfacing work was likely.