YOUTHS are being blamed for starting a fire which destroyed £7,500 of crops on a farm near Chippenham.

Farmer Lindsey Minty has thanked the fast and professional actions of firefighters who fought to put out the blaze following a suspected arson attack on Saturday.

More than 100 tonnes of miscanthus bales, an energy yielding crop, ignited behind houses in Farrells Field.

A Wiltshire Police spokesman said: “Youths were heard and spotted in the area at the same time as the fire and we believe the fire may have been started deliberately.”

Roberta Minty and her husband, Lindsey, own the crops and land where the fire happened and have thanked the quick actions of the fire service to prevent the blaze from spreading and causing further damage.

“The fire brigade were brilliant, they were there immediately and behaved very professionally,” said Mrs Minty.

“They kept an eye on the fire for many hours. They contained it and our contractors took it on to make sure it didn’t affect the neighbouring houses.

“It was just an incident which was unfortunate to say the very least.

“We were alerted about it but by that time the fire brigade were there and luckily no one was hurt, that’s the most important thing.”

Two crews from Chippenham attended the fire at 4.15pm on Saturday, and used a main jet and hose reel jet to contain the fire and protect the surrounding area, before they came away at 7pm with one crew returning for a re-inspection at 11.15pm.

Police are now investigating the cause of the fire.

Steve Long, a resident of Farrells Field, said: “You could see the glow in the field which is about 100 metres away from the house.

“The first we know about it was when the firemen knocked on the door and we had one fire engine park up here.”

Another resident of Farrells Field said: “I was out and when I came back I could hear children.

“It sounded like there were kids in the field behind, but I only knew about the fire when my neighbour texted me.

“We were just settling down to watch the rugby and that’s when I saw the flames way up.

“The fire brigade were good, they kept it under control.”