Thirty canaries killed in Smethwick blaze

A Smethwick bird breeder has been left devastated by a fire that killed 30 of his baby canaries. The birds were housed in a timber building attached to Simona Previ's home in Manor Road.

Mr Previ, aged 44, saw the building was on fire at about 11.30 last night. He called 999 but despite the best efforts of firefighters, nothing could be done to save the birds. "There was nothing I could do, I'm absolutely devastated. It must have been a horrible way to die," he said.

It is believed the fire spread from a neighbour's garden. Mr Previ, who is originally from Italy but has lived with his wife Massimo at the house for eight years, has been breeding canaries since 2000. The birds are worth about £20 each.

The fire also melted a fridge freezer and tumble drier. He said: "I'm just relieved we got out okay."

Mr Previ's brother-in-law Laurentiu Stanciu said: "I feel sorry for what has happened."