A barn containing £24,000 worth of straw went up in flames on Sunday.

The fire brigade was called to the barn in Berryfield, Semington, near Melksham, just after 3.30pm.

The cause of the fire is unknown and is being investigated. Police are also looking at CCTV footage from the area.

A local man who reported the fire said: “I was sitting in my car near the canal with my wife and baby when I heard what sounded like clay pigeon shooting. Then it got louder and louder then I saw smoke.

“I walked up and saw the fire and called 999.

“I don’t know how it started, however there were teens in the area before the fire started.

“I was about to go for a walk along the canal, however the fire put paid to that.”

Scrap tyres, linseed and over 300 tonnes of straw were in the barn. Fire crews from Melksham, Trowbridge and Bradford on Avon were first on the scene and were later joined by five other crews from around the area.

They were helped by Ollie Eyers, from SW Hire, who used machinery to drag smouldering straw bales from the barn so they could be doused with water.

He said: “My boss is away in Cambridge. He phoned me saying there was a fire, so I came down and found the shed ablaze.

“All the straw is definitely gone. It’s a shame.”

Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service issued a warning advising people in Semington to close their windows and stay indoors on Saturday afternoon to reduce their exposure to the smoke.