A stolen Ford Transit van which was set alight appears to have caused a huge fire on farmland yesterday.

Firefighters from Ashford’s blue watch were first to receive the call to Pluckley at around 1.10pm on Wednesday.

Four fire engines, from Ashford, Tenterden, Chilham and Hythe, as well as an all-terrain vehicle from Hythe, were called to Dowle Street.

They worked for over 90 minutes, using two hose-reels to extinguish flames covering up to 25 acres of land.

Farm machinery was used to create a break to stop the fire from spreading.

A police spokesman said: “The fire is being treated as suspicious, as the vehicle had been reported stolen earlier that day, from Ulcombe, near Maidstone. Both incidents are being investigated by officers.”

Anyone with information can call the police non-emergency number on 101.