OVER 1,000 domestic pets — including rabbits, guinea-pigs and rats — were lost in a fire at a property in Lewdown on Tuesday morning.

At around 1.45am the fire service requested police to attend a property fire at Little Cholwill, Dippertown, Lewdown.

The premises traded as a centre for breeding domestic pets, and at the time of the blaze contained over 1,000 animals of various species.

Several fire engines attended the incident, but unfortunately they were unable to extinguish the fire resulting in the animals being lost.

Police and fire investigators are continuing to make enquiries to establish the cause of the fire, but at this stage are unable to say whether this was deliberate or not. Anyone with information is asked to call the police on 08452 777444 quoting log reference number 40/130410.