Fire crews tackle crop fire near Wetherden

Fire crews spent more than two hours tackling a blaze in standing crops yesterday afternoon, in temperatures of nearly 25C.

Suffolk Fire Service was called to Haughley New Street, near Wetherden, at about 4.15pm yesterday where tinder-dry crops had caught fire.

A fire service spokeswoman said about six acres of crop were damaged by the fire, though fire fighters managed to save about four acres.

At the height of the blaze six appliances from as far as Ipswich and Newmarket were at the scene but by 6pm it had been reduced to three as crews used an extended hose to dampen down hot spots.