18 Oct 2018
IN PICTURES: £150,000 worth of straw destroyed in suspected arson attack
Ten thousand straw bales worth more than £150,000 have been destroyed after a suspected arson attack.
The blaze, which started on August 31, could continue to burn for weeks.
The entire field was engulged in flames with smoke being seen billowing for miles around.
Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue suspect the blaze, which happened in a field off Sutton Road near Babworth, was deliberately started.
Watch: 10,000 bales of hay on fire in #Retfordt.co/SNi09vaPLF pic.twitter.com/rhkJGCdejg
— BBC East Midlands (@bbcemt)Watch: 10,000 bales of hay on fire in #Retfordhttps://t.co/SNi09vaPLF pic.twitter.com/rhkJGCdejg
— BBC East Midlands (@bbcemt) September 1, 2017
The 10,000 straw bales were the culmination of six weeks of hard work by Ranskill based RB Agricultural Contracting Limited.
George Roworth, who runs the firm with his brother, said: "I’m sad and frustrated at some people’s total disregard for others’ property and livelihood.
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"Fire quickly spread through our Retford stack yard destroying thousands of tonnes of straw - not just the financial implications but this took an enormous amount of time and hard work from our dedicated lads to gather in, in what can simply be described as a very testing harvest.
"This straw cannot simply be replaced as it was scarce enough to source in the first place.
"Thanks to the local fire brigade, land owners, colleagues and employees for their support and assistance but unfortunately the whole site has been destroyed.
"In the unlikely event that anyone has any information please contact myself or the local authorities."
The firm store its straw at the rural site on the outskirts of Retford and supply local power stations, livestock farmers and farms for cultivating vegetables in the winter.
Retford Fire Station manager Matt Reavill says the fire is a "suspected deliberate ignition" and was lit between 9pm-10pm on August 31.
Two people were questioned about the fire but have since been released.
- If anyone has any information about the incident - contact Notts Police on 101.
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