Two children were feared missing after arsonists set a barn alight last night.
Wrecked - at one point it was feared children were trapped in the burning barn Picture: STEVE O'CONNEL
Five engines with 30 officers from Basildon, Corringham and Orsett fire stations rushed to tackle the blaze, which started at around 2pm at Mott's Farm, Horndon Road, Horndon-on-the-Hill.
The barn was already collapsing when firefighters arrived and their work was complicated by the 50 tonnes of hay which had caught fire.
David Bill, assistant divisional officer said: "Our major concern was the risk to the two children who were seen in the area."
Published Monday January 19, 2004
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