ARSONISTS are suspected of starting a fire which destroyed 500 tonnes of hay and a tractor in an Oxford barn.
The blaze was in a Dutch bay barn in Binsey Lane, off Botley Road, and firefighters were called at 2.03am on Monday.
At its height there were six fire engines and 50 firefighters at the blaze.
A spokesman for the Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service 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 got to the scene.
He said: "At the height of it there were about 50 personnel here. 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 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.
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