ONE hundred tonnes of hay went up in smoke near Wickwar in a fire which resulted in numerous 999 calls.

The blaze took hold at Southwood Farm, on the outskirts of the village at the end of Church Lane, at 5.44pm on Sunday (April 24).

Firefighters spent several hours tackling the fire, which they believe was started deliberately, after several members of the public called the emergency services having spotted the flames.

A spokesman for Avon Fire and Rescue Service said no-one was injured in the blaze and no farm machinery was damaged in the fire.

He said: “Approximately 100 tones of hay had been set alight.

"Minimum water was put on but one retained crew and one whole time crew from Yate spent some hours dealing with that fire.

"We believe it was started deliberately."