FIREFIGHTERS and vet Alice Hall, who battled to save hundreds of sheep from the wreckaged of a crashed lorry, have been commended for their hard work and compassion by the RSPCA.

The full-time and retained officers at Chippenham Fire Station were presented with framed certificates by RSPCA Superintendent Alan Goddard on Monday, after helping to rescue 190 sheep and a bullock from the animal transporter on November 21, 2002.

Mr Goddard said: "The RSPCA is very thankful to the firefighters and vet who arrived at the scene and helped rescue the surviving animals.

"It was an horrific scene, but thanks to their efforts and hard work, a large number of the animals were saved."

He added: "The RSPCA can handle many things on our own, but on occasions like this, we were very appreciative of their help."

The accident happened at around 9pm on the A4 near Pewsham, after the driver of a 41-tonne, three-tiered animal transporter swerved to avoid two other cars, which had collided in front of him.

The transporter, which was carrying 233 sheep and a bullock, was on its way to an abbatoir in Bromham, from Camarthen in South Wales, when it crashed and came to rest in a field. Forty-three sheep were killed in the collision.

Firefighters called for veterinary help after attending to the drivers of the vehicles, none of who were seriously injured, and Alice Hall, 34, of Walters, McFadyen & Lloyd Veterinary Surgeons in Bristol Road, Chippenham, arrived quickly on the scene. The firefighters used cutting equipment to force the opening mechanism of the lorry's back door.

It is believed that the dead sheep suffocated or were crushed after the middle aluminium floor of the transporter buckled on impact and collapsed onto the sheep, on the tier below.

Some of the sheep, mostly ewes, were in shock and had to be carried via a human chain from the lorry.

The surviving animals, which had escaped injury, were then examined by Ms Hall and passed fit to continue their journey.

Ms Hall was also honoured in the presentation, but was unable to attend the ceremony.

Speaking prior to the presentation, she told how she received a call from the police after the accident, asking for her help.

"It was a pretty horrible scene," she said. "There were lots of dead sheep on the floor and we just helped the others to get them off the lorry.

"I tended to the sheep that were alive and needed help, but thankfully, in the end I didn't have to put any to sleep."

She continued: "I was very surprised and pleased when I found out I was to be presented with a certificate by the RSPCA.

"It is a very nice gesture to give me the award. I don't think I did all that much, but it was just a nice thank you from the RSPCA."

RSPCA inspector Stephanie Daly, who along with fellow inspector Phil Bussey also received a certificate, said: "The firefighters and the vet were on the scene very quickly and I think it was the success of our work as a team that led to the animals being moved from their lorry, with the minimum of distress.

"They did a fantastic job, in difficult conditions and it is a tribute to them that casualties were not higher."

Inspector Bussey added: "We would also like to express our gratitude to two local slaughtermen, Terry and Keith Huband, form Stockley, near Calne, who worked until 2am, helping to remove the dead sheep form the lorry."