Shropshire Star

Emergency services targeting Shropshire farm arsonists

Police and fire officers have vowed to work more closely to target the people responsible for the recent series of hay, straw and barn arson attacks in the county.

Published

Officers and staff from Shropshire and Staffordshire met at Newport Fire Station today to discuss the recent fires affecting both counties, which are believed to have started deliberately.

The meeting was organised following a spate of fires in the Market Drayton and Newport area in the last few weeks.

Adrian Marsh, from Tern Hill, near Market Drayton, has been targeted by suspected arsonists twice in less than a fortnight.

Today's meeting. Photo: Telford & Wrekin Police

He lost more than 600 tonnes of straw and a barn in a fire at Yew Tree Lane, Wistanswick, in one fire and 65 tonnes of straw on his land in another.

Another barn fire happened about 10 miles away on Shay Lane in Forton, near Newport.

In September police warned people to be vigilant after fires at Nesscliffe, near Oswestry, Hodnet and Crudgington.

A statement posted on the Telford & Wrekin Cops Facebook page following today's meeting, said: "Those present discussed ways of working even more closely together to target the people responsible for the blazes affecting farmers and rural communities on both sides of the county border."

Today's meeting. Photo: Telford & Wrekin Police
Sorry, we are not accepting comments on this article.