A SOUTH Petherton farmer’s year has “gone up in smoke” after his farm was one of those hit in a series of suspected arson attacks.

Will Powers, 73, of Rylands Farm, East Lambrook Road, has spoken to the News after his large barn, several smaller buildings, three tractors, and more than 200 tonnes of hay and silage went up in flames in the early hours of last Wednesday.

It is not yet known how much the damage will amount to, but it is expected to cost thousands of pounds.

Nobody, or any animals, were injured in the blazes.

The fire was the second barn blaze suspected to have been caused by arson in the village of East Lambrook in just three days, and a police spokesman confirmed there has been a spate of fires in the area recently.

The Avon and Somerset police spokesman said: “Two recent fires are being treated as suspicious.

“We are aware that there have been a number of fires recently and are currently keeping an open mind as to whether they are connected.”

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The Rylands Farm fire was first spotted by Mr Powers’ neighbour, John Pitts.

Seven fire engines including a telehandler, a water carrier and an incident command unit were sent to the scene on Mr Powers’ farm.

Mr Powers said: “There was a load of hay and silage, two sheds, and the barn all went up. There was also a deep litter house.

“I ran out there, I only had my trousers on and I could feel my skin burning. I thought I could try and save one of the tractors but the front wheels were already on fire.

“The whole sky was lit up.”

Mr Powers has lived at Rylands Farm since 1960. His wife Janet, who passed away last year after a battle with cancer, was born there and lived there her whole life. Will now works the farm by himself.

He added: “There has been quite a spate of these attacks. It could be the fourth or fifth one in a couple of weeks, so it seems somebody has got a bit happy with their matches.

“To my mind, what was so strange is that I came in from walking the dog at about 11pm and then by midnight my neighbour is knocking on the door saying your barn is on fire. It was so quick.

“The new tractor was worth £14,000. The older ones I think I could have got £2,500 to £3,000 for each one. That’s a good £20,000 worth of tractors lost just there.

“We have never had a fire before.

“It is a whole summer’s hard work gone up in smoke. It is just desolate out there now.”

Firefighters were also called to a barn fire which lasted into the early hours on Monday, August 15.

Upon arrival crews confirmed a 35-metre by eight-metre barn containing around 100 tonnes of hay and straw well alight which they set about putting out.

After being brought under control both fires were allowed to burn out, which took around four days.

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