Police helicopter chases arsonists (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Police helicopter chases arsonists

9:16am Wednesday 14th March 2007 in Swindon By Gazette Reporter

Arsonists who torched 15 tonnes of straw were chased by a police helicopter.

Police and fire services were called to the blaze in a giant haystack at Westlecott Farm, in Mill Lane, Okus.

Youths are believed to have been seen running away and were followed by the police helicopter.

Wiltshire Fire and Rescue was called to the abandoned farm at around 2.30pm yesterday.

Firefighters from Swindon and Westlea spent almost two hours tackling the blaze, which destroyed around 15 tonnes of straw.

A spokeswoman said: "We were called about the fire on abandoned farm land and hose reels were used to put it out.

"We think it was started deliberately by youths."