Would-be animal rescuers climbing 6ft tall farm wall to grab free chickens spark police warning

Following the sad death of the owner of Oaklands Market Garden, in Blaydon, Northumbria Police are aware that a post is circulating on Facebook and other social media sites regarding the urgent need to re-home 500 chickens.

Those able to re-home the young hens were invited to stop by the market daily from 10am to 1pm to pick up the birds, however the premises are locked on Friday, February 28, and police are asking the public not to visit the site.

Officers are at the market following complaints from neighbours that people are ignoring the fact the shop is locked up and are jumping the wall around the premises in an effort to grab the chickens.

PC Caroline Jones is at the scene, she said: “Please do not come to the market today, the shop is closed and locked up.

“We aware that people have been jumping the 6ft wall around the garden centre and grabbing the chickens, in some cases being very heavy handed when passing them over the walls.

“Regardless what a post may say on Facebook, it is never OK to climb a wall and enter a locked premises. If it’s locked, it’s locked for a reason and please exercise some common sense.

“Please also remember that a man has died and a family are grieving, please be respectful.”

The original poster of the Facebook status has been contacted and will issue an update soon.