A lorry carrying 150 pigs skidded off the road and into a ditch on the A15 near Leerdam on Tuesday morning, killing dozens of animals and causing long tailbacks.

Emergency service workers had difficulty in rescuing the surviving pigs, thought to number about 60, because of the ensuing panic.

The fate of the pigs, which were eventually calmed and loaded into another lorry, is unclear, broadcaster Nos says.

The road will remain closed until around midday, traffic officials said.