MACHINERY worth thousands of pounds was destroyed and the lives of 20 cattle put at risk when a fire was started in a barn.

The blaze broke out at Carr House Farm, Murton Lane, Hetton-le-Hole, Wearside, just after 11pm on Saturday.

It is thought to have been caused by two thieves on the run.

By the time the fire brigade was alerted, the barn was well alight and it took two shifts of firefighters and five engines 12 hours to extinguish it.

At one point, it was feared nine tonnes of ammonia nitrate fertiliser being stored in the barn might explode.

Three tractors, a spreader, a loader and many of the barn's 200 bales of hay were destroyed. Twenty cattle had to be led to safety by firefighters, police and the farmer.

Fire brigade sub-officer Richard Ricaby said: "There was a house theft in the area and they must have been passing through the farm.

"We don't know whether they have tried to get into the farm, but apparently they were high on drugs.

"There was a risk that the fire would spread to the farmhouse, where the farmer and his family were, so we urgently had to make a curtain of water to protect it."

He said the cows were terrified. The farmer was devastated, as he had just got over the effects of foot-and-mouth on his farm.

It is understood two suspects were being questioned by police after being caught on security cameras.