Field fire in Westoning caused by squirrel chewing though cables

The fire took place near a pylon yesterday afternoon.

Fire crews say a squirrel chewed through high-voltage electricity cables
Author: Henry WinterPublished 23rd Aug 2022

We've seen a large number of field fires across the country this summer - but the latest, near Luton, was apparently caused by a squirrel!

Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue crews were called to fields at Toddington Road in Westoning just after 4pm yesterday.

Officials say the animal caused a spark when chewing through high-voltage cables close to a pylon.

It took firefighters more than three hours to get the fire under control.

Fire services across the country have been battling regular field fires in recent months, owing to the hot, dry weather conditions.

Between 8th-15th August, Beds Fire and Rescue received 134 calls about blazes in the open - 114 more than in the same period last year.

Ferret makes 'miraculous' recovery after going through the wash

Bandit the ferret made a 'miraculous' recovery after going through the wash in January.

Bud the parrot was put on a diet due to a crisp addiction

Bud the parrot was left unable to fly after eating too many crisps. She was put on a diet to help her lose some weight.

A very rare seal pup was rescued from the Yorkshire coast

Egg is a grey seal pup with melanism meaning her coat is almost black. Only 1 in 400 seals are born with the condition.

Neglected dogs become pampered pooches

Thirty abandoned dogs who were found in desperate need of some TLC underwent amazing transformations in RSPCA care.

Our pets might receive the Covid-19 vaccine one day

Scientists have said that our pets may receive the Covid-19 vaccine in the future to help prevent transmission in humans. However, experts assure this is simply precautionary planning for the future and there is no current examples of transmission from pets to owners.

A baby giraffe was named after Margaret Keenan, the first person to receive a Covid-19 vaccine

A baby giraffe born at Whipsnade zoo in Bedfordshire was named Margaret after the first person to receive a Covid-19 vaccine outside of a clinical trial.

Blind guinea pig Ami is guided by her sister Yuki

Being a blind guinea pig doesn't hinder Ami, who is guided by her loyal sister Yuki. According to an RSPCA representative, Yuki "looks out for" her sister every day.

A goat at a bus stop was among the RSPCA's strangest rescues last year

A goat at a bus stop was on the list of the RSPCA's strangest rescues of 2020, which included a seal on the treadmill and a puppy in a lounger chair.

First baby beaver for 600 years

A baby beaver has made history as the first to be born in Norfolk in more than 600 years. Two pairs of beavers were reintroduced near Heacham on the north Norfolk coast, last year. A baby beaver, known as a kit, has since been captured on camera paddling through water at night.

"Angry" chicken ruffles feathers by holding up traffic

An "angry" chicken ruffled feathers by holding up traffic in Littlehampton. Police said the "defensive" bird wasn't allowing anyone near it in Cornwall Road.

Cat missing for more than a decade reunited with owner

Fergus went missing from his Forres owner in late 2010 and 11 years later he was found by Cats Protection volunteers at a recycling centre in Aberdeen. It was only when his microchip was scanned they realised how far away from home he was.

Longleat welcomes first southern koala baby

The first-ever southern koala to have been born in Europe was welcomed by safari park Longleat in Wiltshire, with keepers and staff saying they're 'delighted'.

Missing cat invades football pitch and is reunited with owner

Topsey the cat invaded the pitch during a match between Sheffield Wednesday and Wigan Athletic at Hillsborough Stadium. After the game was stopped so Topsey could have her belly tickled and be escorted off the pitch, she was reunited with owner after being missing for 8 months.

Hear the latest news on Clyde 1 on FM, DAB, smart speaker or the Rayo app.