Arsonists today struck for the third time in a month at the Yorkshire Farming Museum at Murton, near York.

A 100-year-old brick building, a replica Viking hut and nearby railway timber were all destroyed in the fire at the museum's replica medieval village in the early hours.

The latest fire comes only three days after arsonists torched the village's longhouse and three weeks after four replica Viking huts at the Danelaw Village were burned down.

Fire officers who battled for more than an hour to bring the blaze under control said they were treating it as suspicious.

Station Officer Nigel Philips said: "The fire was well alight when we arrived at 4am, and it could be seen from Hull Road.

"Our main priority was preventing the fire from spreading throughout the whole village."

The fire-ravaged brick building destroyed in today's blaze was about to be transformed into a glittering grotto as part of the museum's "Santa special".

However, staff at the museum vowed to continue with the attraction and said they would not leave the city's children disappointed.

Site manager Dave Thirlwall, who helped launch the museum in 1984, said: "We don't know who is doing this, possibly someone with a grudge, but I can assure everyone that they will tire before we do.

"This village is about people and there are a lot of dedicated staff and volunteers here who will work hard to make sure the Christmas village goes ahead.

"I've worked far too hard over the years to sit back and let malicious pranksters come along and destroy it all. It's going to take some work but Santa and all his helpers will be here on December 5 as promised."

Detective Constable Paul Barron of York police said they were carrying out further investigations following the latest incident today.

The museum attempts to interpret Viking and Dark Ages lifestyles in a living history environment.

Mr Thirlwall added that for the foreseeable future the museum would be guarded 24 hours a day by staff, and they were also considering introducing floodlighting and high fencing.

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