"A NUMBER of" pigs were killed in a crash which left the A1 closed for 10-and-a-half hours on Monday.

The crash took place at about 10.30am near Dunglass, south of Torness Power Station, and involved a tractor, a lorry and a car.

Three men were taken to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh by ambulance but the injuries were not thought to be life-threatening.

It is thought that the articulated lorry, which ended up on its side, was carrying the pigs, with several trapped inside.

A spokesman for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said: “This was a challenging incident, therefore it was important to release the animals in a controlled way due to the location, which was in close proximity to the East Coast Main Line, and to ensure the safety of everyone at the incident ground as firefighters worked to extinguish the fire.

“Crews received professional advice from our partners at the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies via telephone prior to their attendance at the scene.

“When on scene, firefighters worked jointly with the vets to care for the livestock as they were safely released and transferred to an awaiting vehicle, but unfortunately, despite combined efforts, a number of them were lost.”