Animals perish in arson blaze on Thurnscoe allotment

Chloe Winterbottom (23) said she heard the news of the fire after receiving a call from a lady who lived close by.

"We got a phone call about the blaze and my partner Corey rushed down to the plot to save our animals as we had ducks, rabbits and chickens on the site," added the mum-of-one from Thurnscoe. 

"Luckily, most of our animals are OK, but we lost two ducks and two rabbits."

Fire crews from Dearne and Adwick stations were called to the allotments on Merrill Road at 10.30pm last Sunday and spent three hours at the scene.

Chloe said the allotment plot next to her, which belongs to an elderly man, had also been caught int the fire, which had killed all of his pigeons and burnt down his caravan. 

"I feel so sad for him, he has lost all of his racing pigeons, he had a shed full of them," she added.

"I don't get why anyone would start a fire knowing there were animals around. Why not set them free?

"My two-year-old daughter is going to be devastated. We go to the allotments every single day and she loves the animals - it means the world to us - and now there's not much left.

"It is so heartbreaking and really upsetting to see."

Chloe took on the allotment, made up of three plots, in October last year, and said her family had been spending time during the lockdown earlier this year doing it up.

A crowdfunding page has been set up in a bid to raise £1,000 towards repair costs and temporary rehoming of the surviving animals. 

"I'm not even sure who has set up the page really, but I am so grateful," added Chloe.

"We've received so many messages and offers of help. We cannot thank everyone enough.

Chloe said half of the money donated would go to holder of the neighbouring allotment. 

Visit: https://bit.ly/3jWUTh5 to make a donation.