THE HUNT is on today for a arsonist who is believed to have started a huge field fire in Raydon, which saw Suffolk fire crews spend more than 10 hours fighting to control.

THE HUNT is on today for a arsonist who is believed to have started a huge field fire in Raydon, which saw Suffolk fire crews spend more than 10 hours fighting to control.

The blaze broke out at just before 10pm yesterday, when it is thought that the fire starter set alight to a vehicle on farmland at Woodlands Road.

This morning fire fighters are still on the scene to prevent any further spread.

Within minutes the blaze had spread to the field – and eventually set 60 tonnes of straw, 50 tonnes of manure and abandoned car tyres alight.

Crews from Hadleigh and Princes Street, and Ipswich initially attended and were replaced by a crew from Holbrook later on in the night.

As the blaze continued, the main job of the fire fighters was to make sure it did not spread to other farmland and buildings.

The man in charge at the scene, Assistant Divisional Officer Paul Seager, who is based at Princes Street said that Suffolk Fire and Rescue considered the blaze could be suspicious.

"The car appears to have been dumped in the field and then set alight," he said today. "It is fair to say that the fire could be suspicious and we have let our thoughts be known to the police so they can make their own enquiries.

"The blaze was too hot to get near to the car to take any details. Although we have been dealing with the incident for a long time, our main job in the latter stages was to prevent the fire from spreading."

Suffolk Police spokeswoman Anna Woolnough said today they were not called to the incident, but would be looking at any information handed to them by Suffolk Fire and Rescue.