The owner of 30 tonnes of straw which was destroyed by fire in a blaze near Marlborough suspects it could have been an arson attack.
Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service were called to the incident off Poulton Hil at around 4pm yesterday afternoon (Wednesday, 25 August).
Saul Kidston, who has 16 years of experience in the business of hay and straw, is thought to have lost a harvest worth up to around £5,000.
He offered a £1,000 reward for any information leading to the prosecution of those responsible for the blaze. Anyone with information should call 07557308957 and report it to Wiltshire Police on 101.
“It’s completely unknown who did this”, he told the Gazette and Herald.
Mr Kidston added: “The only information I have so far is from a lady who said she saw two young, slightly built, men walking away from the fire as she rang the fire brigade. She saw them walking away from the fire just minutes before. It’s very strange.”
A fire service spokesperson issued this statement following the fire:
“We were called to Poulton Hill, Marlborough at 4.07pm this afternoon for a fire involving 30 tonnes of baled straw.
“Two fire engines (from Marlborough and Swindon), a small 4×4 pump from Ludgershall and a water carrier from Pewsey were sent to the scene; they found the bales well alight, with the fire spreading to the adjacent stubble field.
“Beaters and hose reel jets have been used to extinguish the field, and the adjacent hedgerow has been damped down to protect it from fire. Farm machinery has been used to create a fire break around the bales, and these are now burning out under control.”
