Arsonists are suspected of starting a huge straw stack fire which has hit a farm business near Loughborough, Leicestershire.
Fire crews were called out to Oakley Grange Farm Cafe and Delicatessen in Shepshed Road, Hathern, at 4.32am on Saturday (January 21).
The blaze broke out in a 50m square stack of straw. The business owners were forced to move livestock because of severe heat and smoke from the "massive" blaze.
Firefighters had to visit the site multiple times since the initial ignition as the fire was expected to burn for several days.
A Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson told the Echo: "We believe it to be possible deliberate ignition.
“There is still approximately 50 square metres of straw still smouldering. Crews are scheduled to be going out again this morning to reinspect, meet the farmer and do a bit more dragging out.”
'Massive blaze'
Oakley Grange Farm posted on Facebook about the incident: "WATCH OUT - We have just been out to check all the livestock, not what we normally do at 5 in the morning...
"Got woken up by the fire brigade, for some reason....our big straw stack at the farm was in a MASSIVE blaze - well now it is getting down to being a mass of black mess.
"Luckily there was little wind, otherwise all our livestock would not have been as lucky. If anyone saw anything in the early hours this morning possible between 3 and 5 (when it was set alight) and also afterwards please let us know.
"Also spread the word to warn others!!!"
A rise in farm fires has been reported prompting farmers to be asked to check their evacuation procedures.
Claims rose by an alarming 14% to £47.9m in 2015, according to insurer NFU Mutual.
