Pictures: Fire crews tackle huge barn blaze near Ludlow
Fire crews are today still at the scene after a barn containing about 300 hay bales, along with fertilser, went up in flames on a country estate yesterday closing the busy A49.
The A4113 Bromfield Road, off the A49 just north of Ludlow, was also cordoned off amid fears of an explosion risk due to the flammable fertiliser kept in the barn.
The A49 was closed into yesterday eveing but was reopened last night.
Nine fire crews were called to bring the blaze under control at Kings Head Farm, Bromfield, which is part of the Earl of Plymouth's estate which also includes the Ludlow Food Centre that the farm supplies.
The blaze broke out at about 3.25pm, believed to have spread to the whole barn from two bales of hay that initially caught fire.
The 30 metre by 10 metre barn contains 50 tonnes of hay and 10 tonnes of nitrogen fertiliser, which is also partly involved in the fire.
Fire crews from Bridgnorth, Church Stretton, Cleobury Mortimer, Clun, Craven Arms, Ludlow, Shrewsbury and Tweedale are using five jets and breathing apparatus to put out the fire.
A fuel bowser, heavy pumping unit, water carrier, prime mover truck and incident command unit are also at the scene, as are West Mercia Police officers.
A fire crew remains on the scene this morning, and the fire service say this may increase as the clean up operation begins.
A spokesman for the Earl of Plymouth's estates said they had no comment to make at this time.
