Farmer helps crews battle 1000-tonne stack blaze

Firefighters are expected to remain at the scene for at least 24 hours

A farmer helped firefighters battle a large blaze in a village after they had worked through the night to contain it.

Suffolk crews from Bury St Edmunds and Wickhambrook were called to a 1,000-tonne stack fire in Hargrave Road, Chevington, at 00:06 BST on Friday.

Using two hose reel jets and beaters, as well as a water carrier, they were able to prevent two surrounding stubble fields from catching alight.

Firefighters are expected to remain at the scene for the next 24 to 48 hours.

The Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service said relief crews from Clare and Mildenhall took over in the early hours.

They continued to dampen down the surrounding area and monitor the spread of the fire, which was exacerbated by strong winds.

Crews from Long Melford and Sudbury later took over, working on the fire until and the arrival of firefighters from Ipswich East.

The farmer also arrived at the scene and worked around the base of the stack to help prevent the fire's spread.