THREE youths set fire to 90 tonnes of straw and ran across a busy motorway in Suffolk, a distraught farmer claimed today. Barry Crick is appealing for information about the arson attack at Home Farm, Nacton near to the A14.

THREE youths set fire to 90 tonnes of straw and ran across a busy motorway in Suffolk, a distraught farmer claimed today.

Barry Crick is appealing for information about the arson attack at Home Farm, Nacton near to the A14.

The blaze has destroyed £3,000 worth of straw at his pig farm and he fears he will not be able to foot the bill.

He said: "This is a major blow.

"I heard that three lads lit the fire and ran off across the A14."

Fire fighters were called to the farm at 5.30pm yesterday and worked through the night to contain the blaze.

Mr Crick, who lives in Sipton, believes the lads had come across to the farm to look at a trench, which was being dug to install a water pipe down to the River Orwell.

A development company nearby noticed the fire and saw three lads run away, Mr Crick said.

Mr Crick said he has lost haystacks to fire in the past and has now moved the rest of the straw away from the area to avoid any further damage.

Anne-Marie Breach, spokeswoman for Suffolk police, confirmed the blaze was being treated as arson.

She said officers would like to trace a number of youths seen in the area around the time of fire.

Anyone with information is asked to call Suffolk police on 01473 613500 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.