This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/essex/8434378.stm

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Pigs run loose on M11 after crash Loose pigs on motorway rounded up
(about 4 hours later)
A herd of pigs has escaped on to a motorway in Essex after the lorry transporting them crashed. A herd of pigs that escaped on to a motorway in Essex after the lorry carrying them crashed have been rounded up and taken to an abattoir.
The emergency services and the RSPCA were called to the scene on the M11 between Harlow and the Stansted Airport junction at Bishop's Stortford.The emergency services and the RSPCA were called to the scene on the M11 between Harlow and the Stansted Airport junction at Bishop's Stortford.
Both carriageways are closed so loose animals can be caught. The southbound road will be shut until the afternoon but northbound will open at 1000 GMT. Both carriageways were closed for about 10 hours while 78 pigs were rounded up and transferred to other lorries.
Firefighters and police have made a makeshift pen to secure the animals. The RSPCA said four seriously injured pigs had to be put down at the scene.
Wandering by road Firefighters and police made a makeshift pen to secure the animals as they were caught after the crash at about 0445 GMT.
A vet has been called as one pig appears to have injuries to its back and there are others with unknown injuries, a fire service spokesman said. Shoulder injured
The lorry driver was being treated for minor injuries at the scene by the ambulance service. The lorry struck the central reservation and overturned on the southbound carriageway near Sheering, an Essex police spokesman said.
The vehicle was carrying more than 80 pigs when it crashed and a large number of the animals escaped and many are now wandering on both sides of the central reservation. "About 60 to 70 pigs were trapped in the wreckage and another dozen or so escaped, running on to the north and south carriageways.
An operation is now under way to round the pigs up safely. "All the animals have now been transferred to other lorries and have been taken to their intended destination in the Brentwood area."
The southbound road will remain shut until the afternoon to remove the lorry and carry out an investigation, police said. The motorway was closed north and southbound between junctions 8 at Stansted and 7 at Harlow for the recovery of the animals and the lorry as well as for repairs to the central reservation.
The lorry driver received head and shoulder injuries in the collision and was taken to Princess Alexandra Hospital, Harlow.