A FARMER has put up a reward following an arson attack which destroyed two barns and their contents.

Will Chrystal is offering £2,000 for information leading to the arrest and successful prosecution of those responsible for the deliberate blaze at Wingate Grange Farm, County Durham, last Thursday (October 30).

Mr Chrystal and his father, Bill, have run the farm, on the outskirts of Wingate, for the last 35 years.

But it has only been in the last eight months that fireraisers have turned their attentions to his premises.

A similar attack, in April, damaged one of the two open sheds, but due to the time of year there were few contents.

But the latest early hours blaze not only destroyed the barns, measuring 75 by 30ft and 60 by 20ft, but also the hay and straw inside, which was to have been sold to livery yards for bedding.

He said he was awoken by his recently born son, crying to be fed, at about 2.30am, when he saw the glow from the flames from a window.

“It was well away and my first thought was that I had horses in stables between the two sheds.

“Despite the thick smoke, I managed to get the three horses out, and the fire brigade arrived pretty quickly, probably within about five minutes.

“But, by then. it was too large to do a lot about it, and eventually I asked one of the chief fire officers to leave as much as they could, as they couldn’t save the buildings by that stage, and the amount of straw and hay burned was too large to stop.

“The fire has had a huge impact on our business.

“The total value of the damage caused was in excess of £40,000.

“I’m offering the reward because I’d like to encourage anyone with information which might help police investigating the arson to come forward.”

Mr Chrystal said although well insured through the National Farmers’ Union, it is the aftermath clear-up after such attacks that causes particular “annoyance”.

PC Gary Barnes, of nearby Peterlee police office, said: “We’ve exhausted all current lines of inquiry and are hoping that the reward Mr Chrystal is offering might help us find some new information to move the investigation forward.”

He urged anyone with information to help trace those responsible to contact him on 101, or call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on (0800) 555111.