'My heart sank when I heard fireworks near farm'

Thomase Cleator is asking those setting off fireworks to inform their neighbours

A sheep farmer has said he was "emotionally drained" after fireworks set off above his farm caused a number of his animals injuries and some premature ewes to lose their lambs.

Rockets set off above Ballakeenan Farm in Sulby on 2 November last year left owner Thomase Cleator helpless as many of his sheep ran in fear across the field.

The following day, four ewes prematurely gave birth to six lambs who did not survive and 10 other sheep were left injured, which he believes was due to being distressed from the night before.

He said it caused "absolute chaos in our flock", adding, "watching animals you care for suffer, because of something so preventable is truly devastating."

Mr Cleator is asking members of the public to inform their neighbours

He said his "heart sank" when he first heard the fireworks and saw that they were going off near the field with his sheep in it.

Once he got outside, "the sheep were running in every direction because they could hear banging above their head, but they can't see it and don't know what is going on," he said.

The fireworks were being set off for an hour and a half from about 20:30 GMT, but it was the aftermath that left him "emotionally drained", in particular when four ewes gave birth prematurely to six lambs the following day, he said.

"The heartbreak of seeing a sheep with a dead lamb on the floor, and she is kicking it trying to get it to get up," he continued.

And other sheep that night injured themselves as they ran across the field and fell into rabbit holes, he said, leaving one ewe with a shattered hip and nine others going lame.

"We spent weeks treating injuries and trying to calm sheep that were terrified and disoriented," Mr Cleator continued.

He is now asking the public to make sure they inform their neighbours if they are setting off fireworks, and wants to raise awareness about the serious impacts it can have on livestock owners.

"Beyond the financial loss, the emotional toll was huge," he continued.

The incident left 10 sheep injurred and six lambs prematurely kicked out

He said if he had been informed: "I would have to shift the sheep to a different field that is away from them, or at least a good enough distance that they stand on one end of the field and watch the bang."

Mr Cleator contacted the government following the incident, but was told that as the fireworks were set off legally, there was nothing he could do.

A spokesman for the Department for Home Affairs said the department "intends to use the forthcoming Justice Reform (Amendment) Bill to introduce changes to fireworks legislation."

Changes include modernising the way that public notices are issued, and making it an offence to let off a firework in which the sound or sight of them could cause harassment, annoyance or disturbance to a person or domestic animal.

"The Department urges everyone to act responsibly when they release fireworks. Please consider your neighbours and those with animals," the spokesman added.

"I don't want to be a killjoy, but it's got to be remembered that we have to abide by animal welfare laws 365 days a year," Mr Cleater said.

"Fireworks can cause livestock such stress and anguish, and the public need to have a level of understanding of that too."