Shropshire farmers warned after two deliberate hay fires

Two farms were targeted in the latest attacks that have seen tonnes of hay, silage and straw destroyed.

Both fires are being treated as suspicious and an investigation has been launched by police.

The first blaze involved 200 x 30 metres of hay and straw alight at Child's Ercall airfield, near Market Drayton.

The second was just four miles away in Great Bolas and involved 20 x 30 metres of baled hay alight in field. The hay was left to burn away as it was in the centre of a field with no risk of spreading.

Both started in the early hours of Saturday morning – and fire crews remained at both sites into the afternoon damping down.

Police are looking for witnesses. as both incidents are being treated as arson and linked due to the close proximity and times of the fires.

Derek Taylor, from the prevention arson team at Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: “Crews were sent out to two incidents this weekend in the Childs Ercall/Eaton on Tern area.

“Crews from Hodnet and Wellington were called at 12.30am on September 23 as 200 metres x 30 metres stack of hay were on fire at Childs Ercall Airfield. The fire was out by about 4pm.

“Then at about 1am crews from Wellington and Newport were called to o 20 x 30 bales of hay on fire near to the Bolas to Eaton on Tern road. The fire was out by 4.30pm.

“Dealing with these fires are time consuming and laborious. They are labour intensive and means crews are not available if they are needed elsewhere e.g. at road traffic collisions.

“It also costs farmers thousands.

“Both incidents are arson and linked due to the close proximity and times of the fires.

“I would urge farmers to be vigilant and to try and break-up large piles of hay and straw.

“We are asking people in the rural community to be vigilant and report anything suspicious to West Mercia Police on 101 or Crimestoppers 0800555111.”