'Giant straw stack puts my home in danger'

Cliff Nye is concerned the 10m-high stack is a fire risk

The owner of a wedding venue is concerned that a 10m (32ft) stack of straw bales that has appeared in a field at the bottom of his garden is a potential fire risk.

Cliff Nye, 78, lives on the same land as his wedding venue, The Farmhouse, at Redcoats near Hitchin, Hertfordshire.

He claims his neighbours at Rush Green Farm may have built the straw structure in response to his public opposition to their plans for a solar farm, rejected by North Herts Council in November.

Farmer Hugh Neave, who owns the land where the giant haystack appeared, was approached for comment.

Mr Nye said: "I've never seen any stack within a mile of here before... why he's chosen this location I don't know."

The National Farmers Union declined to comment on this specific case, but on its website advises bales should not be stacked higher than 6m (20ft).

A farmer from Rush Green Farm said: "We are farmers and this is not a problem"

In July, a new application was submitted for a solar farm at a different location on the land.

Mr Nye, who has lived on the site for seven years, said: "I was one of many objectors, on the strength of being right next to it.

"In no way am I against renewables; we have to have renewables to survive... There's lots of reasons to put it here in the right place, as long as you keep everyone happy."

The owner of Rush Green Farm wants to build a solar farm on the property

He is now concerned that a bale fire could take place, such as the one that occurred in Bedfordshire on Sunday.

"I've caught children playing on here with vaping machines... the public has access to this area as well. I think it's hazardous," he said.

"The fire brigade said there is no risk to life, but there is a risk of smoke damage to my house should it catch fire."

Mr Nye described the stacked straw as "hazardous"

Mr Nye is also worried that as the winter arrives, it will become harder to remove the stack as the soil gets wet.

"The longer it's up, the more risk of a fire [there is]. I'm trying to be reasonable about this."

Another Hugh Neave, who works on the farm, told the BBC the stack was there because “we are farmers and this is not a problem”.

He added: “Every year we put haystacks in different places.

“Any bale of straw has a risk of fire."