FIFTY pigs were killed yesterday after the lorry they were being transported in overturned at an Oxfordshire roundabout.

The crash on the A420 at the junction with the A415 at Kingston Bagpuize caused chaos on the Oxford to Swindon road with traffic backed up for miles.

The lorry had been taking 220 Finisher breed adult pigs from Somerset to Spalding in Lincolnshire when the accident, which did not involve any other vehicles, happened at about 12.30pm.

Fifty pigs died instantly in the crash while a dozen ran off when the doors of the vehicle opened on impact.

What caused the vehicle to topple was still unclear last night.

Although a dozen of the animals escaped, no accidents with moving vehicles were reported.

The driver of the lorry, who worked for Somerset-based hauliers AE George and Son, was taken to the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford with head injuries, which were not thought to be serious.

A spokesman for the haulage company refused to comment on the accident.

It took firefighters and police more than two hours to herd the escaped pigs using a firefighting hose.

By 4pm, all were accounted for and were being checked over by local vets.

An undisclosed number of the animals were injured in the collision and they were all being taken to a west Oxfordshire farm to be destroyed.

It was unclear last night what would happen to the animals killed in the smash.

The unharmed animals were due to continue on their journey to Spalding.

It is not known if they were destined for the slaughterhouse.

As well as dealing with pigs on the road, emergency staff had to contend with diesel leaking from the lorry.

An Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service environmental protection unit was among the vehicles called to the scene and the Environment Agency was also summoned.

An Environment Agency spokesman said: "We were called because the lorry ruptured its fuel tank and there was a risk of fuel running into a nearby stream."

She said the diesel did not reach the stream or cause any pollution problems.

The A420 eastbound was closed from Frilford crossroads until 5pm while the area was cleared as the pig survivors resumed their journey to Lincolnshire.