Horses die ‘screaming in pain’ after ‘deliberate’ fire started in Scotland

Farm owners believe they have been target of series of attacks

Three horses were found dead at the scene and another died later (Getty)

Four horses were burnt to death in a suspected arson attack in Lanarkshire in Scotland.

Emergency crews were called to Morningside Farm near Newmains, south east of Glasgow in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Firemen found three of the horses dead and a fourth one alive, but it reportedly later died of its injuries.

The owners of the farm said they believed they had been targeted in a series of attacks.

Three weeks ago another barn where five horses were inside was set on fire and another fire was started in a horse trailer.

The incidents are all being treated by police as deliberate.

Melanie Collins, who owns the property with her partner, former jockey Donal Nolan, have been left devastated.

Speaking to STV News, she said: “I understand from various people that they heard the horses screaming in pain and they couldn’t get out.”

“What kind of animals can do that to innocent animals?” she said.

The alarm was raised by a neighbour and Ms Collins and Mr Nolan, who do not live on their farm, found it hard to see what remained on site afterwards.

They said: “We didn’t know what we were coming to.

“We were told there was another fire and you wouldn’t imagine that somebody could do that, that they could burn animals alive.

“God help the poor animals... to put animals through such horrific pain is unimaginable.”

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Police were called 1.45am on Saturday to a report of a derelict building on fire on Mill Road, Alanton.

“Scottish Fire and Rescue Service were also in attendance and the cause of the fire has not been established yet.

“Officers are now treating it as wilful and enquiries are ongoing.”