Police have launched a major investigation into a massive barn blaze on Friday evening.

The fire in Appledore Road, Woodchurch, started about 6pm and destroyed the building and 12,000 bales of hay, worth a total of £100,000.

During investigations, police discovered that an estimated 1,400 litres of red diesel, worth £700, was stolen from a bowser stored in the barn which the farmer managed to move to safety when he discovered the fire.

Police are treating the fire as suspicious, and are appealing to anyone who may have seen a beige or pale coloured Land Rover Discovery leaving the scene shortly before the fire was discovered.

Chairman of Tenterden and Romney Marsh National Farmers’ Union, Tony Weller, said: “With the price of fuel trebled the agricultural diesel is even more attractive to dishonest people.

"As country people we are always on guard and we will have to step up security even more and keep alert.”

Anyone with information should contact South Kent police on 01303 289180 or call the confidential Crimestoppers hotline on 0800 555111.