Some 400 dead pigs have been found on a farm in Gelderland, all of which are thought to have starved to death.

The pigs were last fed and given water 10 months ago and were then abandoned, animal welfare inspectors said on Wednesday. They had been tipped off by police who had spotted several dead animals in a byre.

Police were able to trace the farmer who is apparently working on another pig farm in the locality. He faces criminal charges.

The inspectors are now trying to find out why no one living on the farm sounded the alarm and why the farmer had left the pigs to die. The farm had last been inspected two years ago and no problems were found.

Last month, government inspectors found 50 dead cows and calves on a dairy farm in Gelderland. In that case, the farmer was no longer able to look after his animals and had only given them food and water sporadically, the inspectors said.

The inspectorate has a special hotline for farmers who feel they can no longer cope with their livestock.