A farm supplier is today counting the cost after his £50,000 haystack went up in flames.
Black mountain - a firefighter tackles the blaze on land at Horsley Cross. Picture: ADRIAN RUSHTON (45124-1)
The blaze, involving 1,500 tonnes of straw, started at 7pm yesterday.
About 14 firefighters from Manningtree and Dovercourt contained the blaze and made sure it was not going to affect nearby houses or barns.
The stack was collected by Bentley Contracts, and the company's manager Peter Brewer believed the fire had been started deliberately.
He said: "No-one had been there for a fortnight and the stack was tucked away.
"This is the third fire we've had this year after ones at Bromley and Wix and it's getting too much of a coincidence."
He added the stack, which is expected to burn for another two days, had not been insured as loads worth more than £10,000 could not be covered.
More in today's Evening Gazette
Published Monday, September 19, 2005
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