A Norfolk poultry rescue centre is appealing for help with rehoming 150 hens that were involved in a lorry crash near Manchester.

The Little Hen Rescue Centre, in Greenways, Flordon acted to help the stricken hens which were among 6,000 on board a lorry that crashed on the M62 at 4.15am on May 14.

Approximately 1,500 chickens died during the crash, in which the lorry hit the motorway's central reservation before overturning, throwing cages containing the birds across the four lane carriageway.

However, many more, possibly up to 5,000 chickens, survived and escaped into nearby fields.

Jeff Anderson, the centre's secretary, said following the crash people started ringing hen rescue centres across the country to see if they could take the birds, including the Flordon base, which took the 150.

He said some of the hens had been injured in the crash, suffering anything from cuts and scratches to broken wings and some had been put down in the aftermath.

Other hens had suffered psychological trauma following the accident, in a similar way to humans, which meant they were not eating properly and needed extra attention to help them recover.

Mr Anderson said the centre specialised in helping rescued hens and in the past had taken in 800 hens at one time following a rescue.

But the centre depends on the generosity of the public for donations and he appealed for donations, as well as for people who were willing to offer the hens a home.

'People who want the hens to keep can pay a donation and they benefit from having the hens through the eggs they produce,' Mr Anderson added.

To donate or to find out more about the rescue centre, visit www.littlehenrescue.co.uk.

The centre also has a Facebook page Little Hen Rescue.

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