Lancashire farm blaze update: Fire crews at scene of hay bale blaze for several hours on one of hottest days of the year

Fire crews remained at the scene of a huge blaze in the Ribble Valley for several hours yesterday.

Six fire engines from Clitheroe, Padiham, Hyndburn and Blackburn were called out at 9-30am to the fire at a farm in Edisford Road, Great Mitton, where several bales of hay had set alight in a barn.

Due to the smoke in the area, which could be seen for miles around, nearby residents are asked to keep windows and doors closed.

Fire crews remained at the scene throughout the day and at 11am the 'stinger' from Skelmersdale was sent out.

This is a piece of equipment with an extendable arm to pierce through slate and other materials to fight fires without committing firefighters on the ground to potentially unsafe structures.

The incident was reduced to three engines at 1-30pm and had been scaled back to two by 4pm. Damping down at the scene carried on until early evening.

Fortunately there were no injuries in the blaze.