FARMERS rescued more than a dozen calves as fire ripped through a barn.

The blaze started a Badley Hall Farm in Great Bromley and farmers Ken Robinson and Tim Wood had to herd the month-old baby calves out of harm’s way.

Mr Robinson, who has worked on the site which has arable land and a variety of livestock for more than 30 years, then moved dry straw which was in the barn out of the way to stop the blaze spreading further.

Three fire crews – two from Colchester and another from Manningtree - were called to the scene just before 4pm on Wednesday.

The fire officers helped to remove the straw and were on site for more than two hours helping to extinguish the flames.

Mr Robinson’s wife Nicky said she was relieved all the animals affected were safe.

She said: “There were 14 calves in the barn which are a month old.

“Fortunately they all got out safely.

“It is strange how they react to something like this – you would think they would have an instinct to get away but they don’t.

“They all had to be moved elsewhere while my husband Ken worked to remove the straw which was acting like the fuel to the fire.

“The fire brigade arrived within eight minutes and helped Ken out.”

None of the calves were harmed and they are now being housed at a neighbouring farm while the family begin their clean up operation.

The smouldering straw was moved to a nearby ménage which is usually reserved for training horses.

Last week, a dozen horses died following a fire at a livery yard at Elmwood Equestrian Centre in Maldon Road in Burnham.

Mrs Robinson said things could have been a lot worse but the farm and butchery business were still open.

"We have lost a huge supply of straw, the supply we had bought in for the winter, but we will have to buy more," she added.

“We would have been devastated if any animals had died or any of them had been injured.

“Thankfully, the butchery business is still open and no-one will miss out on their Christmas orders.”

An investigation will be launched to determine the cause of the fire but it is thought to have been started by an electrical fault.