Arson fear in second farm blaze (From Tewkesbury Admag)

Arson fear in second farm blaze

2:33pm Thursday 2nd November 2006 in News

A second blaze at a Tewkesbury farm in less than a year is being treated by the fire and rescue service as arson.

The latest fire at Chapel Farm, Walton Cardiff, broke out at about 6pm on Sunday, October 29, destroying 320 tonnes of straw.

People the village being were left without electricity for 13 hours after a transformer near the scene was switched off for safety reasons.

Firefighters from Tewkesbury were called to the scene and were later relieved by a crew from Winchcombe.

A small team were still keeping a watch over the smouldering remains of the fire on Tuesday evening.

Farmer David Goddard said the lost straw was worth £17,000 to £18,000.

He said that the base of the stack was very damp, so there was no way it could have self-ignited.

"We are keeping our eyes and ears to the ground," he said, adding that since the development of the Wheatpieces there were a lot more young people passing the farm on their way too and from town.

Last December, 300 tonnes of hay and a barn were destroyed in a blaze. Roads near the farm were closed for several days, because of the danger of asbestos in the barn roof spreading in the smoke.

Just clearing the site and replacing the hay cost £25,000.

A 12-year-old boy was arrested and cautioned.

Mr Goddard is still repairing the damage caused by the first blaze.

He said: "I was annoyed that I had not finished the new barn before Christmas, but thank goodness I didn't, as that would have gone as well."

Police would like to hear from anyone with any information about the incident. They can be contacted on 0800 555 1234.