FIRE crews have worked through the night to tackle a large straw fire on a farm at Sowerby, near Thirsk.

The fire and rescue service was were first called at around 5.15pm yesterday, and sent crews from Thirsk, Northallerton, Malton and Boroughbridge, including a water tanker, to fight the flames.

A spokesman said around 400 half-tonne bales were on fire at the farm on Sandholmes Lane, Sowerby.

Police were called at 5.20pm because of drifting smoke which might have been a hazard to motorists, a fire service spokeswoman said.

She said it was too early to say what the cause might have been.

Crews had created a fire break and the farmer was using his tractor to remove the bales.

As of 7.15am today, one fire crew was left on scene and was expected to stay for several hours controlling the fire with covering jets of water and keeping a "watching brief" while it burnt out.

On Saturday a York crew was also called to a small shed fire on Asquith Avenue in Tang Hall.