A LARGE fire broke out in the early hours after hundreds of haystacks caught alight.

Fire crews from East Wittering rushed to the scene this morning and fought the blaze for several hours.

A West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service spokeswoman said: “We were called to a fire on City Fields Way, Tangmere at 4:08am today.

“Three fire engines attended the scene and found approximately 200 hay bales on fire.

“Crews monitored the incident to make sure the fire did not spread further. They left the scene at 8:25am.”