Police were called by Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service to the building in Brent Road, East Brent and an investigation has been launched to establish the cause.

Detective Superintendent Neill said: “We are 100% committed to putting a stop to this crime; a crime that strikes at the very heart of our rural communities."

Farmers are being warned to ‘remain vigilant’ following news of a scam going around the area.

Patrols have included officers from North Wales, West Mercia and Cheshire.

They conducted an investigation which pointed to suspected arson.

‘Rural crime is a very broad picture and farmers experience crime in all sorts of ways,’ Mr Exwood said.

“I’ve spent a substantial amount of money on buying large poacher plants to try and protect my property.”

One of the strategy's key objectives is tackling domestic abuse

Calne police station to become base for Wiltshire rural crime team

Inquiries are still ongoing today, with a number of vehicles at the scene in Cottingwood Lane, Morpeth, with forensic units also attending a cordoned off section of woodland.

A “SICK and tired” farmer has said farms have to be turned into ‘fortresses’ to keep criminals out as he slammed the lack of a police presence in rural areas.

The number of fly-tipping incidents in the East of England region has fallen, new Government figures have revealed.

A large quantity of suspected class A drugs have been seized by police near Ballyclare.

The lives of more than 300 sheep were put at risk and a person had to go to hospital after a barn caught fire near Kingsbridge on Monday (March 6).

A FLY tipper who dumped a “disgraceful” amount of household waste in a beauty spot is being hunted by an infuriated councillor.