A blaze which threatened to destroy farm crops and hedgerows is believed to have been started by children.

Firefighters from Clacton and Weeley spent four hours at the fire at Carpenters Farm, Great Bentley.

Farm partner Peter Morton said today the blaze was the second incident in two years.

"There were two or three small fires on a similar piece of land last year and now this incident yesterday," he said.

"With the wind it could have been a lot more serious. It is believed it was probably started by children."

Mr Morton, 65, was watching Great Bentley cricket team on the green, and his son David, 31, who is also a partner, was at his home at The Cut, a mile away.

"David had to drive down and quickly get the discs on to the tractor to make a firebreak to stop the flames reaching a field of standing corn," he added.

"Thankfully the railway crossing gates in the village were not closed and he was able to get through straight away. It would have been a major problem if they were closed at the time."

Mr Morton said it was also fortunate there was field of potatoes in between the fire and the corn which helped provide a barrier.

The 100-acre Carpenters Farm is best known as a fruit farm and attracts many visitors.

Mr Morton said: "I suppose we were fairly lucky in the end as it could have been a business going up in smoke."

Fire crews were at the blaze until after 7pm making sure it was completely out.

A spokesman for the fire service said: "I hope this is not part of the latest craze we have recently seen in Clacton where youngsters set fire to fields and then run through them."

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