FIREFIGHTERS were called out to tackle a blaze on a former Network Rail site near the railway line at Thingley Junction on Friday.

Appliances from Chippenham and Corsham, as well as a water carrier from Royal Wootton Bassett, went to the site following a call at 5.40pm. Crew manager Will Newell said the site’s owners had piled an estimated 50 tons of railway sleepers into three heaps, which were on fire. Firefighters brought the fires under control and departed at 9pm.

A Network Rail spokesperson said their staff also attended: “The fire did not affect the running of the railway."

A Wiltshire Police spokesman said: “We were contacted by Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service at around 7.45pm on Friday due to three separate fires involving railway sleepers near Easton Lane, Chippenham. At this stage we believe the fires may have been started deliberately and our enquiries are ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact Wiltshire Police on 101, quoting crime reference 54180104067. Alternatively you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.”