FIREFIGHTERS spent 16 hours tackling a blaze that destroyed 500 bales of hay at a farm.

The fire broke out at High Stanghow Farm, near Saltburn, east Cleveland, shortly before 8pm on Thursday.

Firefighers contain the fire and then damped down and broke up the bales of hay that had been damaged.

They left the farm at about midday yesterday.

Investigations are under way to determine the cause of the firee, which may have been started deliberately.