ARSONISTS who torched a barn on Teesside put their own lives at risk.

The barn and 65 tonnes of straw were destroyed in the fire which threatened to spread to a field ready for harvesting.

Cleveland Fire Brigade watch manager Martin Holden said: "Once hay catches fire, it spreads rapidly. Those responsible put their lives at risk as well as causing disruption to the farmer.''

Thirteen firefighters battled the blaze at Moorhouse Farm, on the edge of Stockton, for three hours, on Wednesday night.

Mr Holden, who is based at Thornaby fire station, described the fire as a mindless destruction of someone's property, while it tied up crews and machines which could have been needed for a life-or-death situation elsewhere.

He said the fire was deliberate set and was being investigated by Cleveland Police.

Mr Holden said: "The biggest problem was stopping the fire spreading to the wheat field around it, which was ready for harvesting. The farmer was most worried about that.''

The barn was torched as brigade bosses launched a campaign urging parents to keep an eye on their children during the long school holiday.

Cleveland Fire Brigade, which has the most call-outs to arson attacks in Britain, has begun a variety of initiatives to improve the picture.

Deliberate fires account for 80 per cent of all call outs accross the brigade area.

The brigade and its partners have reduced hoax calls and vehicle fires by 28 per cent and deliberate house fires by 20 per cent.