POLICE are appealing for information about a blaze which destroyed a barn full of hay in Westerleigh.

The fire at the barn off the B4465 in Codrington Road was discovered by a patrolling PCSO who alerted the fire and rescue service.

Fire crews were called to the 30 by 15 metre open ended site last Tuesday, October 30, at 9.30pm and spent a day tackling it.

They could only contain the blaze and let it burn out, with the road closed while the crews were at work. Investigators have been unable to establish the cause of the fire but have ruled out an electrical fault and the use of an accelerant.

When they arrived firefighters from Yate, Kingswood and Southmead fire stations were faced with a well developed blaze involving around 200 tonnes of hay, straw and bailed silage.

They used unmanned monitor jets, as well as hose reels to control the blaze, preventing it from spreading to nearby trees and other buildings. A local farmer also worked alongside the crews to move bailed silage, creating a fire break.

At the height of the incident crews from five fire engines were dealing with incident, with relief crews from other stations being brought in throughout the night and early hours. Fire crews also carried out regular inspections the following day.

Police are appealing for anyone who was in the area last Tuesday night with any information that could help the investigation to contact them.

Officers are also urging local farmers to check their outlying barns regularly as this is the third incident in South Gloucestershire since September: - On Sunday, September 16, 60 bales of hay were destroyed by fire in Over Lane, Almondsbury.

- On Saturday, October 13, a fire starting in hay and straw in a barn in Shortwood Hill damaged nearby agricultural machinery.

Anyone who can help us is asked to call South Gloucestershire CID on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, or via www.crimestoppers-uk.org