Police are investigating a fire which destroyed a 400-tonne straw stack in the Fens.

They say officers were called after a vehicle was driven into the bales in a field near Chatteris and set alight this morning. Bedding worth £17,000 was destroyed in the blaze.

The fire is the second blaze to be caused by a car being driven into a stack within a few weeks in north Cambridgeshire.

On Monday, September 25, a large pile of bales next to the A142 at Mepal was set alight after what was described as a 'small car' was driven into them. The fire burned for 12 hours.

Firefighters say farmers should not build stacks near roads or public footpaths. They also recommend building a number of smaller stacks, to reduce the risk of losing an entire year's crop in the event of an arson attack.

Farmers are also advised to avoid stacking bales near buildings with livestock inside so if a fire starts animals are not endangered.