ELEVEN fire engines were called out to tackle a blaze in a barn in Pickmere containing 100 tonnes of hay.

Fire engines from Lymm, Stockton Heath, Northwich, and one from Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service responded to a call to Frog Lane, Pickmere, at 9.48pm on Saturday, August 31.

Fire crews wore oxygen masks and used ground monitors as they tackled the fire with hoses.

Relief crews from Nantwich, Frodsham, Penketh, Crewe, Runcorn, Winsford and Birchwood also attended.

Some hay which was not already alight was removed from the barn by firefighters with the help of employees using farm machinery.

Some bales already on fire were left to burn out.

A number of overhead steel beams had to be removed from the roof of the barn to make it safe for the work to continue. 

A Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said: “Crews were called to a fire in a barn containing approximately 100 tonnes of hay.

“Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus used hose reel jets and ground monitors to tackle the blaze.

"Crews removed and dampened the contents from the barn throughout the day, and several overhead steel beams had to be removed from the roof to make it safe for operations to continue.

“A large quantity of hay was removed, while some was left to burn away.

"Two pumps remained at the scene overnight."