ALMOST 50 firefighters tonight tackled a huge barn fire, which had been threatening the safety of up to 1,000 cattle.

Crews were called to Chariswood Farm, at North Stainley, near Ripon, shortly before 6pm. A total of eight pumps were sent to the scene, which is next to the Lightwater Valley Theme Park, and these were soon joined by several specialist appliances.

A spokesman for North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue said water was being pumped from the theme park’s lake to the farm, to help quell the flames.

“The crews have reported one barn well alight and they are protecting an adjacent, very large cattle barn with an estimate of about 1,000 cattle in that,” he said.

Around 10.30pm the incident was being scaled down, although the spokesman said there would be a significant presence at the scene overnight.