Police arrest man following Northumberland farm fires

On Tuesday evening, fire crews were called to barn fires at Causey Park, near Morpeth, and Chevington Moor, about one mile away. The fires were started within minutes of each other.

A third Northumberland farm, in Belford, was hit on Wednesday evening, forcing police to close the nearby A1 for three hours.

In each case, large barns containing hay and straw bales were set alight.

Police said on Friday they had arrested a 49-year-old-man from Alnwick, in Northumberland, on suspicion of arson, following the fires. Enquiries are continuing and officers are asking that anyone with any information about the fires contact police on 03456 043043.

Peter Hogg, of Causey Park Farm estimated that at least £60,000 of damage had been done by Tuesday’s fire.

“It is a kick in the shins that you don’t expect,” he told the Morpeth Herald. “This is our livelihood. We are providing jobs for six or seven people and these arsonists come along and try to destroy it for just five minutes of fun.

“They are just scum. They don’t realise what they are doing.”

Chris Manners, of Chevington Moor, said the cost to his farm was around £100,000 of damage on top of £30,000-worth of produce being lost.

“It was barley straw that has been in there for about a month, it’s the best stuff as well. Now we will have to get it from somewhere else which is more expense and we have got nowhere to put the cattle,” he said.

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