Crews tackle barn fire involving 100 tonnes of hay

Farmers and firefighters worked for 10 hours to put out a blaze in a barn containing 100 tonnes of hay.

Crews were called to Cards Mill Lane in Whitchurch Canonicorum, near Bridport, Dorset, shortly after 12:00 BST on Thursday where the barn, hay and tyres were alight.

Crews from Charmouth and Bridport, and a water carrier from Danes Castle in Devon worked to stop the flames spreading to the roof and a neighbouring barn.

Relief crews from Dorchester, Weymouth and Lyme Regis took over at 17:30 and continued firefighting until the fire was extinguished at about 22:15.

The farmers moved their cattle to safety and used a telehandler to move the bales out of the building to help the operation.

They also remained at the scene overnight, after crews had gone, keeping watch and applying water.

Firefighters returned early on Friday morning to dampen down hotspots that were discovered during reinspection.