Fire crews were sent to a 'suspicious' barn blaze in Bilsington in Ashford at midnight after reports that three different haystacks were on fire.

A member of the public dialed 999 after seeing the flames, which were not fully extinguished until 2pm today.

Fire crews and Kent Police attended the scene in Newchurch Road sending one pump and a Fogging Unit.

A spokesman for Kent Fire and Rescue Service said: "There were three different haystacks on fire from two different farms within half a mile of each other.

"We sent one pump and a Fogging Unit to the scene because the 4x4 is a good way to get to outdoor scenes that engines struggle to get to.

"The Fogging Unit was used to attack the fire in the hay stack.

"The farmer used a mechanical digger to help break up the stacks to gain access to the fire and other machinery to act as a barrier to stop the fire spreading to the rest of the field.

"We do not know how it started but the time of day it started makes us think it must be malicious.

"We have sent a fire officer to do an inspection and investigation."

A spokeman for Kent Police said: "Kent Police was called at just after 12.30am on Friday 22 August to a report of a hay bales on fire in Newchurch Road and Tarpot Lane, Bilsington.

"Officers will be making enquiries to establish the circumstances."

The incident happened around the same time three serious barn fires in the Isle of Sheppey.