WEBBS Country Foods and hauliers Phil Hanley Ltd have been fined thousands of pounds after a vet discovered 'a mountain of dead birds' at the end of a lorry journey through snowy conditions.

A total of 780 birds were found dead in their crates at the Sutton Benger factory and a further 566 were declared unfit for human consumption because they were an abnormal colour.

Both Webbs and Phil Hanley Ltd spoke of their shock and regret at the incident, and said new procedures had been put in place to prevent such a disaster happening again.

Yvonne Bennett, prosecuting on behalf of Wiltshire County Council, told the court 12,000 birds were transported in two articulated lorries from Eden Ridge Farm at Chard, in Somerset.

They were taken from a shed at about 1.45am on April 4, where the temperature was 22 degrees Centigrade, and loaded into crates and on to a trailer without protective covers, even though the temperature was freezing outside and snow and sleet were falling.

At the slaughter factory in Sutton Benger vet Maria Dominguez described a mountain of dead birds. The other chickens were wet and cold.

The incident was then reported to Wiltshire Council.

Tim Driver, of Webbs, which has its head office in Eastleigh, Hampshire, said covers had not been put on the trailers because the weather change had been sudden and unexpected, and Webbs had to make sure chickens did not suffocate or overheat.

The Sutton Benger plant processes around 68,000 chickens daily, employing 1,900 people.

Ian Rothera, of Phil Hanley Ltd, based in Newark, Nottinghamshire, said the company regretted the incident.

Webbs and Phil Hanley Ltd pleaded guilty to charges of transporting poultry in a way which was likely to cause them unnecessary suffering.

Webbs was fined £2,000 and £750 costs, and Phil Hanley Ltd was fined £1000 with £750 costs.