Italian tank accidentally blows up full chicken coop

A large number of chickens were killed in the incident

The chicken shed had partially collapsed and a large number of chickens were killed in the accident (Getty Images)

A chicken coop in Northern Italy was accidentally blown up by an army tank taking part in military exercises, local police have said.

The accident happened on Wednesday evening. The farm owners discovered the damage the following morning.

The chicken shed had partially collapsed and a  large number of chickens were killed in the accident, which happened on the outskirts of Vivaro, a small town close to an army shooting range.

An investigation into the accident has opened up in the nearby town of Pordenone, local media have reported.

The town is located north of Venice.

The main question raised in the investigation will be to try and answer why the tank had fired in the general direction of the town, rather than the area reserved for shooting.

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Local media also reported that magistrates have impounded the tanks involved.

The army did not make any immediate comment. 

The Italians are not the first army to make a mistake during training.

In 2002, the British Army accidentally Spain while trying to land in Gibraltar during an exercise. The mistake was revealed by a former head of the Royal Navy.