Police believe arsonists sparked huge fire near Harborough

Arsonists who sparked a devastating fire on farmland on the outskirts of Market Harborough late on Saturday night (June 4) causing £70,000 damage are being hunted by police.

Detectives are launching an investigation after the fierce blaze broke out just feet from an enormous agricultural barn off Steeplechase Way on the edge of Farndon Fields estate at about 10.45pm.

Northamptonshire Police today said that about 400 empty wooden potato boxes and a stack of vegetable plants were “deliberately set on fire” in the criminal assault.

The “raging inferno” also scorched and damaged the outside of the barn, used as a storage warehouse.

Police are now urging anyone who saw anyone acting suspiciously in the area or who knows anything about the arson attack to contact them immediately.

Officers are issuing the urgent appeal after about 40 firefighters from all over the region raced to tackle the blaze.