Police investigate barn fire as crews remain on site

Police are investigating a fire, which has destroyed a barn containing 2,000 hay bales.

Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service (DWFRS) said it was called to the barn in East Lulworth just after 03:00 BST on Saturday.

At the height of the fire - which is believed by the fire service to have been started deliberately - DWFRS said there were about 60 firefighters from nearly a dozen fire stations tackling the blaze to prevent it from spreading to nearby trees, land and property.

On Sunday, the fire service said it had scaled back to two crews but expected to retain a presence in the coming days to ensure the surrounding countryside was protected.

In a post on social media, Wareham Fire Station said: "The fire has destroyed a derelict outbuilding as well as the barn and its contents."

Dorset Police said: "The fire service has brought the fire under control and enquiries to establish the cause of the fire remain ongoing."

Det Sgt Erin Kinghorn described the cause of the fire as "undetermined".

"Enquiries are ongoing and we continue to liaise with DWFRS as part of our investigation into the circumstances surrounding this incident," she said.

"I would urge any witnesses or anyone with information relating to any individual who may be responsible for this fire, to please make contact with us," she added.

The force has appealed for anyone who may have witnessed suspicious activity in the surrounding area during the early hours of Saturday, or captured footage on dashcam, CCTV or doorbell cameras, to get in touch.