Arsonists are suspected of starting a fire which destroyed 500 tonnes of hay and a tractor in an barn.

Firefighters were called at about 2am today to the fire in the Dutch barn, in Binsey Lane, Oxford.

At the height of the blaze, there were six fire engines and 50 firefighters at the scene.

A fire service spokesman said: "It will smoulder for the next couple of days because of the size of the building. Hay always takes a while to burn itself out."

Watch manager Bob Paterson said there were 20ft flames when firefighters arrived.

He said: "At the height of it there were about 50 personnel here. It was going really well, big flames everywhere. The fire engine will be here for the next couple of days just in case."

He said firefighters had been concerned because the blaze was so close to The Perch pub in Binsey, which has a thatched roof, but he added in the end there had been no risk.

Mr Paterson said the barn belonged to Christ Church but was being rented by a local farmer.