THE cause of a field on fire in Bagpath, Stroud, is being treated as suspicious after three white males seen fleeing the scene.

Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service were called to the scene at 2.06pm.

A spokesman said: "Nothing was used to extinguish the fire and it has been reported to the police as suspicious."

The field sits between Thrupp and the Bear of Rodborough hotel and pub.

Residents stated that the fire crews were trapped in the Sewells Lanes near the field in a bid to respond to the blaze.

One resident Dean Ives, owns the horses in the field below, he told the SNJ that he and a farmer put the fire out by using water from his truck which he uses for his window-cleaning business.

His wife Gemma said: "My horse where in the field below but what's worrying is my husband said to put them in that field but we put them back in the other one. Also the fact a fire engine couldn't get there."

A police spokesman said: "We were called to a grass fire in Brimscombe by the fire service at 2.40pm.

"Three white males had been seen running from the scene by a member of the public towards Minchinhampton Common.

If you have more information call police on 101 and quote incident 294 Wednesday, April 5.