Barn arson victim to sell cattle

Dozens of firefighters were at the scene of the fire blaze

A farmer who lost 100 tonnes of hay and straw in an arson attack said he will now have to sell his livestock.

More than 25 firefighters went to the blaze at Mount Farm in Great Glen in Leicestershire on Wednesday night.

The barn in which the bales were kept is used to house animals over the winter. Without it, they will have to be sold while a replacement is put up.

Farmer Duncan Robinson said: "We've lost a very large shed which can house up to 200 cattle."

Fire crews said the barn was deliberately set alight and they were still damping down on Thursday afternoon.

Mr Robinson said: "Now we are unable to winter them because the shed cannot be replaced overnight and some of them will have to be sold.

"It disappoints me that such mindless vandalism can go on.

"We're living in quite difficult times for farmers and this just adds to the misery."