A major fire at a disused aircraft hangar near Dorchester was an act of arson, the fire service said.

Shocked residents spoke of seeing thick black smoke rising high into the air and dozens of emergency service vehicles as firefighters tackled the blaze at the old airfield in Warmwell over several hours.

Two fire crews from Dorchester were called to the scene at around 9.30pm on Thursday and fought the flames until past midnight.

They requested support of crews from Maiden Newton, Bere Regis and Poole.

A spokesman for Dorset and Wiltshire Fire Service (DWFRS) said: "The building had partially collapsed before crews arrived, so they could only fight the fire from outside.

"A separate small fire was also located at a second hangar nearby as the flames spread."

Police were called to the scene around an hour later by the fire service which believed the cause may have been deliberate.

A spokesman for Dorset Police said: "The fire service will carry out investigations and we will be working with them."

The DWFRS spokesman said following a visit to the hangar by a fire investigation officer yesterday (26) morning, they confirmed the cause to be deliberate and started by a 'hydrocarbon fluid' such as petrol. The investigation has now been passed on to police.

The area used to be home to a former RAF station and the hangar was associated with the base. The station closed after the Second World War.

A Crossways resident, who asked to remain anonymous, said: “I called the fire brigade after coming home to my house being surrounded by black smoke.

“I walked towards the barn and could see jet black smoke going up to 70ft in the air with embers.

“Fire crews were here in great time and the smoke had begun to settle down.

“It’s a great shame to see a piece of history be destroyed.”

Keith Hanger, who lives in Oaklands Park Home Estate next to the field, said: “I saw lots of smoke and there were lots of fire engines there.

“Police cars were driving back and forth up this road. Thankfully the smoke didn’t come this way.”

Alex Door, who lives near the field, said: “Two fire engines went past and down the track in to the field, then a few minutes later a couple of police cars or special fire officials went past. By 10pm there were three or four engines.

“We heard what sounded like cutting with a grinder, not sure why, but then the fire engines went back and forth filling up with extra water.”

Firefighters used eight breathing apparatus, two hose reels and two main lines to extinguish five separate fires across two hangars.