POLICE believe a massive fire that swept through a Suffolk farm may have been started deliberately, it emerged today.

POLICE believe a massive fire that swept through a Suffolk farm may have been started deliberately, it emerged today.

A huge clean-up operation is under way after fire swept through a barn at Holly Farm piggery in Wilby, near Stradbroke, just before 7pm yesterday.

The flames quickly spread through the barn, measuring 50metres by 20metres, which housed 400tonnes of straw, farm machinery and fertiliser.

Around 800 pigs had to be evacuated as a result of the blaze.

Inspector Chris Downes, of Suffolk police, said several thousand pounds of damage was caused by the fire.

“The fire may have been started deliberately,” he said.

“We are investigating.”

Fire crews from Stradbroke, Framlingham, Eye, Debenham and Harleston fought the flames and a crew manning a water bowser from Sudbury also attended.

A lorry was used to transport the pigs from the site on the B1117 while the firefighters battled to control the blaze.

The crews remained at the site throughout the night after a decision was made to allow the straw to burn.

A fire investigation team was today continuing to assess the cause of the blaze.

Anyone with information is asked to contact DC Duncan Etchells at Mid Suffolk CID on 01473 383400.