Firefighters have battled a huge fire on a Scottish farm where more than 700 hay bales were caught alight.
Police and fire crews were called on Wednesday (18 October) at 4.16pm after reports of hay bales on fire within a farm building in the Garvock area of Laurencekirk in Aberdeenshire.
A total of 16 firefighters were at the scene as they attempted to tackle the major blaze at the horse breeding farm.
No people or horses have been reported injured.
A Police Scotland spokesman said: “We were called by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service at 4.35pm today after reports of a fire within a farm building.
“Inquiries are still at an early stage.”
Farmers across the UK are seeing a rise in deliberate acts of fire starting on their land.
Hundreds of tonnes of straw were set on fire at a farm just outside Cambridgeshire in September.
The blaze, which set fire to around 500 tonnes of straw, is thought to have also been a suspected arson attack on the farm.
Assessing the risk
• A quick survey around a farm will identify where an arsonist could strike.
• Stacks should be of a reasonable size and at least 10 metres apart.
• Removing hay and straw from the field quickly after harvest will take away a potential arson target.
• It is also essential to maintain firefighting equipment and to prepare a fire routine and action plan for the safety of your family and employees
