A fire has destroyed a barn in Sible Hedingham.

Fire fighters were called at 2.30am today to Kentish Farm, Devlin End, where 50 per cent of a barn, which contained wood flooring materials, was alight.

Four fire engines and one water bowser tackled the fire and crews remain at the scene to continue damping the wood that is still smouldering.

The cause of the fire is unclear and the Police and Fire services are carrying out an investigation.

Sub Officer Darren Hockley from Wethersfield Fire Station said: "The good news is that no French partridges were hurt as a result of this fire. There were three sheds on the farm and thankfully the one housing the birds was not affected.

"The storage shed on fire contained wooden flooring and two large propane cylinders. Close by, there were thousands of partridges in a second shed and crews worked extremely hard to prevent the fire from spreading there. If the fire had reached the poultry shed, I have no doubt the birds would have all died.

"Crews did an excellent job containing the fire to save the birds. The third shed contained furniture and was unaffected."