More than £1,000 of damage done in suspected arson at Hereford farm (From Hereford Times)

Twenty tonnes of hay set alight near Belmont

10:36am Tuesday 4th September 2012 in County By Lydia Johnson

MORE than £1,000 of damage was caused in a suspected arson in Hereford yesterday evening.

Fire officers were called to Belmont, near Merryhill Farm on Monday at around 5pm, where 20 tonnes of hay was on fire, costing the farmer around £1,500.

No one was injured in the fire, but Police now want to speak to two teenagers seen running away from the scene.

Both are described as being white and in their early teens, while one was said to be wearing a bright white top and tracksuit bottoms and the other a dark top and dark bottoms.

Speaking about this incident, Detective Sergeant Tim Powell said: "Although no one was injured and no other property was damaged as a result of this fire, this still represents a significant loss to the farmer concerned.

“This was a large fire and we need to speak to two male youths who witnesses saw running away from the scene as soon as possible.”

Anyone with information can contact West Mercia Police on 101 or 0300 333 3000, quoting incident number 599S 030912.