'Deliberate' hay bale fire spreads to fields

Police are investigating a "deliberate" fire involving several hay bales which spread into surrounding fields.

The fire spread across 15 acres of land close to Milford Road in South Milford on Friday evening, requiring four fire crews and local farmers to extinguish, according to the fire service.

Police said they believe the fire was started deliberately and they had seen a recent increase in similar incidents.

A spokesperson said: "Deliberately setting fire to hay bales not only causes significant financial loss to farmers but also presents a serious risk to life, property, livestock, and the wider countryside, particularly during periods of warm and dry weather."

Crews from Tadcaster, Acomb, Selby, and Pontefract attended and were supported by local farmers, according to the fire service.

Police said the blaze was quickly extinguished thanks to the "swift assistance" of the landowners and crews.

They urged the public to help prevent future fires by reporting suspicious behaviour, taking video of any evidence, and "educating young people about the dangers of deliberately setting fires".

They asked anyone with CCTV, dash-cam, or mobile footage from the area to contact police.

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