Human remains found in barn fire

David Greenyer, 14, and a friend of about the same age, went missing at about the time the barn caught fire.

Neighbours told last night how it was thought the boys may have been behind the fire, but had run away in fear of being told off.

But firefighters sifting the wreckage of the hay barn made a grim discovery of a body, or bodies.

Although they could not say for certain whether the remains were those of the two boys, they feared the worst.

The tragedy occurred at Buckton Farm, near Belford, Northumberland, at 8.30pm on Saturday.

At the same time, David's father, Terry, reported him missing along with a friend, called Jonathan, who was visiting him.

Inspector Mick Waddle, of Northumbria Police, said: "The fire service was called out to Buckton Farm, just north of Belford, where a large fire had started in a barn.

"Firefighters spent all night dealing with it and have found human remains in the debris.

"At the same time, the police were making inquiries and conducting a search for two teenage boys reported missing.

"We cannot say that the remains are those of either of the two boys, but we are linking both inquiries.

"It is a very quiet rural area where things of this nature happen very infrequently. Two incidents like this in close proximity are likely to be linked."

David lives with his parents in cottages, near Buckton Farm.

Neighbour George Gray said: "We all knew about the fire in the barn, it was a big fire.

"I saw David's father, Terry, afterwards and he was looking for him and his friend.

"We wondered about the fire and whether the lads may have had something to do with it and kept out of the way to avoid any trouble.

"It is terrible, terrible shock to find there was someone in the barn, it makes you fear the worst.

"I haven't seen David's mother or father today. I am just very concerned about this now."

Elsie Scott, who partly owns Buckton Farm, declined to comment about the incident.