A FIRE which destroyed about 1,000 tonnes of baled hay in a field near York could have been started by arsonists, police believe. Firefighters said a stack of 600 bales, measuring 30m by 70m, caught fire in an open field at Moor Lane, Skelton, at 8.30pm on Friday and it was allowed to burn down. Firefighters remained at the scene until 3am on Saturday. Police are treating the fire suspicious and want to speak to the occupants of a blue Volkswagen Caddy van, which was seen in the area at around the time of the fire.

Anyone with information should call police on 101.