ANIMALS were led to safety as flames ripped through a barn in Essendon yesterday (Monday) evening.

Four crews from Welwyn, Hatfield and Hertford fire stations were called to a farm on Essendon Hill at 6.20pm.

On arrival, firefighters found a number of single storey buildings well alight.

They moved pigs and other livestock away from the burning storage sheds until the fire was put out at 7.40pm.

No one was injured and the cause was accidental.