A FARM arsonist is being hunted after tons of hay went up in smoke last night.

Fire crews were called to Roundstone Farm, beside the A259 at Ferring, at 9.40pm to tackle a burning haystack.

Firefighters from East Preston partially dismantled the stack of rolled baled hay to control the fire.

Hoses were turned on a nearby 200-ton haystack to keep it from catching light.

Firefighters were at the scene for more than six hours, keeping the fire under control as the stack burned down.

Approximately 200 tons of hay was destroyed and further bales were damaged by heat.

Today, fire officers were examining the scene to establish the cause of the fire, which is believed to have been started deliberately.

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