Hay fire at beauty spot 'started deliberately'

Police investigating a farm fire at a popular beauty spot, which took more than 28 hours to put out, said it was thought to have been started deliberately.

Fire crews battled the fire, which set light to about 250 hay bales on Hackpen Hill, Wiltshire, from 09:30 BST on Saturday until just before 14:00 BST on Sunday

The haystack measured about 49 x 33ft (15m x 10m), and Wiltshire Police said enquiries are ongoing, and they are asking anyone with any information to come forward.

Walkers and cyclists were urged to stay away from the area, which looks out over miles of countryside and is one of several hills in the vicinity to have a white horse carving.

"Two main lines, three hose reel jets and farm machinery were used to extinguish the fire," a Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said.

No injuries have been reported.

James Hussey, who runs neighbouring Weir Farm in Broad Hinton, said it was "quite a loss" for the farmer.

However, no further crops or livestock are believed to have been affected.

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