ARSONISTS are being hunted after four barns were set alight in the space of a few hours.

Firefighters were called to a large barn on fire at a farm in York Road, Dunnington, at 1.13am yesterday. Straw worth about £8,500 was destroyed.

Shortly afterwards, Humberside Police were told of two other barn fires close to each other at Skirpenbeck.

At 3.10am, a barn in a field next to the A64 near Foston, between York and Malton, containing 300 to 400 bales of straw, was set on fire.

PC Ruth Atkins, of York Safer Neighourhood Team, said: “It is vital that whoever is responsible is brought to justice and I am urging anyone who saw the fires take hold or has any other information to contact the police as a matter of urgency.

“They must be stopped before they do it again. Not only does this put their own lives in danger, but also the lives of passing members of the public and those who genuinely need the assistance of the emergency services.”

Anyone with any information is asked to call North Yorkshire Police or Humberside Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.