FIRE crews worked through the night when about 80 tonnes of straw went up in smoke in a suspected arson attack at a farm in Coate.

More than 30 firefighters were involved in tackling the barn blaze at Day House Farm, in Day House Lane, which started on Saturday night and was still going yesterday afternoon.

Fire engines from Swindon and Stratton, plus an additional water carrier from Royal Wootton Bassett, initially got the fire under control with two jets and some hose reels.

Wiltshire Police closed Day House Lane at the junction with the A419 and the junction between Commonhead and Coate roundabouts for about four hours on Saturday night due to the road being blocked by emergency vehicles.

Farmer Craig Horton said he thought it was arson because a neighbour had heard children running away saying ‘the barn is on fire’ and he saw it had been lit in two places.

“It was definitely arson with some young children, but the fire brigade has been absolutely fantastic,” he said.

“You can do without this, it’s as simple as that. It’s just vandalism, it’s just mindless.”

Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service received the emergency call from a passer-by about the blaze at the four-bay Dutch barn at 9.43pm on Saturday.

The firefighters were replaced through the night and well into the following day by relief crews, who wore face masks while damping down and raking over the straw to burn the fire out.

By 3pm yesterday, six crews – nearly all of them from Swindon – had been involved in the operation, which they hoped would be fully out by the end of the day.

Watch manager Bruce Weatherston, of Stratton fire station, said 80 tonnes of straw was a big barn fire, but they had made good progress although they were able to save the wooden annexe on the side of the building.

None of the other farm buildings or the historic Day House were affected by the blaze.

Mr Weatherston said the service believed the fire was started deliberately and said the police scenes of crime officer had been alerted.

He said: “It’s heartbreaking for the farmer because it’s a lot of work lost and this is a rural county.

“And it just takes up valuable resources for the fire service and the farming community, which it does because we have taken away appliances from the Swindon area, where they could be providing coverage.”