FIRE crews were called to a farm at Broadway yesterday (Sunday, May 13) after a fire involving a large quantity of wood chippings was reported.

Fire crews from Broadway and Evesham raced to the scene in Cheltenham Road, and an appliance was also sent out from the Gloucestershire brigade's station at Chipping Campden.

Station commander Toby Kempton said: “We arrived at the farm to find around 20 square metres of compacted wood chippings alight, with a risk of the fire spreading to other barns and stables nearby.

“The barns contained a number of horses and so our first priority was to move these safely away from the fire. This was quickly completed and we then concentrated our efforts on stopping any fire spread to nearby barns.”

He confirmed that the fire was brought under control by 6.40pm., with the use of one main jet and two hose reel jets.

There were no injuries, but the wood chippings and a shipping container used to store farm machinery were destroyed.