Pigeons killed in allotment fire
A PIGEON fancier has been left devastated after a suspected arson attack at his cree saw more than 100 of his birds burned alive.
Jimmy Stephenson, who has had pigeons at the allotments in Hawthorn Street, Easington Colliery, for 43 years, discovered the wreckage in the early hours of Sunday morning.
The fire is being treated as a suspected arson attack and police are urging anyone with information to come forward.
Jimmy, 72, of Stewart Street, Easington Colliery, broke down in tears as he spoke about the blaze.
He said: "I have not slept at all overnight.
"I have paid people a lot of money for them – it's thousands – but you cannot put a value on them.
"I just cannot believe someone would do this. How would they like to be in a fire and not able to get out? They're not right in the head."
Allotment holders say this is the third arson attack on the site in a fortnight, with structures containing quails and livestock being destroyed.
Jimmy added: "I was dreading it. Every time I saw the fire engine going past I thought it might be me."
In the latest incident, two fire engines from Peterlee were called to Jimmy's allotment at 12.05am on Sunday.
Eight firefighters battled the blaze for almost three hours, with flames raging about up to 40ft in the air.
Two crees were totally destroyed, killing 102 pigeons and there was also damage to a greenhouse and a polythene structure where Jimmy keeps vegetables.
Jimmy, who has travelled the country racing his birds but more recently had been concentrating on building up a family of Jansen pigeons, said: "That's it for me for me now, I'm finished.
"It would be too expensive to start again, I built those crees myself and I could not even begin to build them again."
Crew manager Mark Garrett, of Peterlee Fire Station, said: "It was well alight, flames were 30ft to 40ft in the air. It was an area of 90ft by 60ft. We could not see anything, the whole structure had gone. It was destroyed and collapsed in on itself.
"We used two jets to put out the fire."
Detective Sergeant Cliff Down, of Peterlee CID, said: "This was a man's life's work and we want anybody with any information to come forward."
Anyone who has any information can call Durham Constabulary on 0345 60 60 365 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.
Email to a friend
Print this page- TRANSFER RUMOURS - Tuesday, May 22: Newcastle United, Sunderland, Tottenham, Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea, Barcelona, Wigan, QPR, West Ham and Blackpool
- TRANSFER RUMOURS: Monday, May 21 - Drogba, Man City, Spurs, Crunch talks for Torres, Hammers eye Cole, Hazard undecided
- TRANSFER RUMOURS - Thursday, May 24: Newcastle, Demba Ba, Arsenal, Chelsea, Man City deny Tevez rumours, Man Utd, Porto
- VIDEO: 999 call police car ploughs into house
- Transfer Rumours May 23: Newcastle United, Sunderland, Arsenal, Manchester United, Everton, Blackburn, Tottenham and Wolves.
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Peterlee
Friday 25 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 17 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 16 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: East
