TWO hundred bales of straw were destroyed in a barn fire yesterday.

The blaze at Stainton Manor, Downholme, near Richmond, was seen from a nearby road by a motorist, who raised the alarm.

Fire crews from Richmond and Leyburn spent most of the day at the site. They pulled down one side of the barn, but were unable to tackle the flames safely and stood by as the straw was allowed to burn itself out.

No animals were affected and there were no injuries.

Steve Dixon, who farms with his father, John, at Stainton Manor, said it was unclear how the blaze started.

He said: "Someone drove past it on the roadside at about 7.30am and raised the alarm.

"It just got too much for the fire brigade and they have let it burn. It was a good job that the barn is away from the rest of the farm buildings or it could have been a lot worse."

A fire brigade spokesman said the cause of the blaze was unknown. Firefighters remained at the scene yesterday afternoon to damp down.