ARSONISTS are being hunted after fires were started at an Abridge farm on Bank holiday Monday just a week after three barns at another nearby farm owned by the same family were also torched.

Hill Farm owner Nigel Padfield raised the alarm at 2.15am on Monday after a fire had taken hold among 3,000 tonnes of baled straw.

Police spokesman Ken Bailey said three separate fires were started in the straw surrounding a barn containing animals.

Two Loughton fire crews arrived at the Epping Lane farm and were quickly followed by firefighters from Epping, Hainault, Ongar, Brentwood and Waltham Abbey.

Firefighters battled through the night to prevent the fire enveloping nearby barns housing livestock, and remained at the site for a further 24 hours as a precautionary measure.

Epping leading firefighter Dean Hunt said: "It was like a very big bonfire. When we arrived it was going well so we had to surround it with water monitors in an attempt to protect the nearby barn."

The fire follows a double arson attack at Great Tawney Hall, Tawney Lane, Stapleford Tawney, in which owner Maurice Padfield saw ten cattle die and three barns destroyed.

Hill Farm owner Nigel Padfield - who is Maurice Padfield's nephew - described the fire as very serious but refused to comment further.

Detectives are asking for information about the blazes, and want to hear from any witnesses. Anyone with any information should ring Epping CID on 01992 561212 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.