DOZENS of firefighters tackled a huge blaze near Dorchester which saw two barns and thousands of bales of hay go up in smoke.

Dorset Fire and Rescue Service was called to Hogleaze Farm, off the Roman Road near Winterbourne Abbas just after 3pm.

The service had first been alerted via a call from Bournemouth Airport Control Tower which reported a fire that had been seen by a pilot flying about 3,000 feet above Maiden Newton.

The blaze completely destroyed two barns as well as some machinery.

One of the barns, a single storey building, contained 3,500 bales of hay.

More than 50 firefighters from across the county were involved in tackling the blaze. Eight fire appliances in total were at the scene. A water carrier also attended to help supply water to crews.

The first firefighters on scene came from Dorchester station.

A spokesman for Dorset Fire and Rescue Service said: “We received the alert at 3.01pm to three barns on fire.

“Eight crews from across the county were in attendance.

“It is believed that the single storey barns contain 3,500 bales of hay.”

The fire was under control by 5pm but it was the fire would continue to burn for a further 24 hours.

Speaking at the scene of the fire, Louis Minchella, group manager with DF&RS said: “Water supplies are very scarce. We have got to use a water carrier and engines to shuttle water back and forth here.”

Fire engines were also used to move water to the scene.

Mr Minchella praised crews for their efforts at the scene.

He said: “I’d like to say that the first fire crews on the scene were from Dorchester. Crews then came from across the county to do a very good job in very difficult circumstances.”

He said that the work of the crews meant that further farm buildings were not destroyed by the fire.

As well as the destruction of the barns, farm machinery was destroyed in the blaze, including a hay blazer as well as chemicals including diesel and coolant.

The fire is not being treated as suspicious.

Mr Minchella said: “At the moment we believe it was an accident and it is not being treated as suspicious."

“It is still being investigated but we don’t believe it to be suspicious.”

Motorists were urged to avoid the area as traffic built up on the A35.

Police Community Support Officers came closed the Roman Road to allow firefighters to work.No-one was injured Smoke could be seen billowing up in to the air from along the Roman Road as the fire raged during the afternoon.