LORNA MARSH A teenager is in hospital tonight suffering severe burns following a large hay bale fire.The 17-year-old boy's condition was said to be “very serious but not life threatening” after he was burnt at the scene of the blaze on a farm on Muck Lane between Salhouse and Rackheath.

LORNA MARSH

A teenager is in hospital tonight suffering severe burns following a large hay bale fire.

The 17-year-old boy's condition was said to be “very serious but not life threatening” after he was burnt at the scene of the blaze on a farm on Muck Lane between Salhouse and Rackheath.

A 13-year-old boy suffered minor burns during the fire and was also taken to hospital. Both were from the Rackheath area and police are treating the incident as a criminal investigation.

The blaze broke out just before 3pm and it was believed to have started on one 500-ton stack of straw bales then spread to a neighbouring stack.

Three fire crews were called to deal with the blaze but Norfolk Fire Service watch manager Mark Wilson-North said that the only action they could take was to let it burn out under close supervision to stop it spreading.

The fire is expected to continue burning until at least later tomorrow.

Norfolk police supervisor Martin Swan said: “Two young people had been injured as a result of this hay stack fire, both were males and both were from the Rackheath area. The first, a 17-year-old, suffered serious burns to the face and hands. The second, who was 13, suffered minor burns.

“Both were taken to the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital and at the present time our investigation is one of criminal damage.”

t Anyone with information regarding the incident should contact Norfolk police on 0845 456 4567 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.