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Dozens of chickens were crushed to death or injured when a lorry crashed into a river this morning.

Thousands of the birds were on board the lorry when it careered off the road in Carmarthenshire, Wales just after 4.50am.

It is not known exactly how many chickens were on board, but early reports suggest there may have been up to 12,000, reports Wales Online.

The driver of the lorry was rushed to Glangwili General Hospital in Carmarthen, where it's believed he is in a stable condition.

(Image: Adrian White) (Image: Adrian White) (Image: Adrian White)

Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service crews from Llandovery and Brecon were at the scene dealing with the incident for nearly six hours.

A spokesman for the Welsh Ambulance Service said: "We were called at about 5am to reports of a road traffic collision involving a lorry on the A40 in Halfway near Llandovery.

"We sent a crew in an emergency ambulance and one patient was taken to Glangwili General Hospital in a stable condition."

(Image: Adrian White)

(Image: Adrian White)

A spokesman for Dyfed Powys Police said: "At approx. 4.50am this morning, an articulated lorry, carrying a large number of chickens, left the A40 road, between Halfway and Trecastle, just outside Halfway.

"The lorry had gone down an embankment. Emergency services attended the scene, and the driver of the lorry received treatment from paramedics.

"The road is closed in order for recovery to take place, and is likely to remain closed until late afternoon. The welfare of the chickens is being dealt with by the local authority, although a number have been killed in the collision."