Oxfordshire farmers are being warned to be on guard against arson strikes during the long summer holidays.

The county's Fire and Rescue Service has linked with crime reduction teams and the National Farmers' Union to raise awareness of the dangers with a poster and newsletter campaign.

Pete Cleary, the service's fire risk manager in south Oxfordshire, said: "Because some young people have more time on their hands during the summer holidays, the likelihood of arson attacks can increase.

"We want to alert farmers to the dangers."

The NFU is distributing newsletters on the issue which reach 70 per cent of the county's farmers.

At special risk are barns full of harvested winter feed at this time of year.

John Farrow, the county council's executive member for community safety, said arson attacks took firefighters away from other duties and deprived the community of fire cover.

"Mindless acts of arson can be a disaster for farmers," he said.