A major blaze has destroyed 100 tonnes of hay and a field of stubble in the countryside outside Ashford.

Firefighters began tackling the large fire at Eastwell Park, Eastwell near Ashford shortly before 3pm yesterday afternoon.

Three fire engines and a bulk water carrier were sent to the fire. Crews were faced with around 100 tonnes of straw well alight which had also spread to the field of stubble which measured around 12 acres - the size of 12 football pitches.

Crews carried out a watching brief overnight to allow the straw to burn in a controlled way.

Initial reports suggested a combine harvester might have been alight but that was not the case.

The blaze happened exactly two weeks after a combine harvester caught light in Kenardington following a mechanical failure.

There, the quick-thinking farmer built a fire block to protect his crops and was forced to call the fire brigade.