Some 1,000 pigs have died in a factory farm fire in Lierop in Noord-Brabant, where the Dutch pig industry is concentrated.

The fire broke out in one barn at around midnight and efforts concentrated on saving a second barn from catching fire, news agency ANP said.

Last October, the Dutch safety board said it is starting an investigation into factory farm fires to establish why such large numbers of animals are being killed.

According to animal rights lobby group Wakker Dier, 176,000 animals died in factory farm fires last year.

The government has said it would not force farmers to take further measures to prevent fires breaking out because of the cost of the investment. The current measures do not include compulsory lightning conductors and sprinkler systems.