Crews tackle barn fire involving 2,000 hay bales

Firefighters have been tackling a blaze involving a derelict building and a barn containing 2,000 bales of hay, which is thought to have been started deliberately.

Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service said it was called to the barn in East Lulworth just after 03:00 BST on Saturday.

At the height of the incident, the fire service said there were about 60 firefighters from nearly a dozen fire stations tackling the blaze to prevent it from spreading to nearby trees, land and property.

In a post on social media, Wareham Fire Station said: "The fire has destroyed a derelict outbuilding, as well as the barn and its contents."

A spokesperson for the fire service told the BBC: "We currently believe the fire to have been started deliberately and investigations are ongoing."

Shortly before 17:00 BST the operation had been scaled back to six crews, and by 19:00, to five.

The fire service expects to remain at the scene overnight and "then see what the morning brings".

"The focus remains protecting the surrounding countryside," the spokesperson added.

"Thanks go to Wessex Rescue for drone support today, and the Lulworth Estate for providing us with refreshments."