ARSONISTS are believed to have started a fire involving about 80 large straw bales near Malton in the earlier hours of this morning.

Firefighters from Malton were called to Ruffin Lane, Eddlethorpe, just after 12.30am, and used a water curtain, major jet and 45mm hose to tackle the blaze.

A spokesman for North Yorkshire Fire Service said: "A local farmer attended and used machinery to turn over the bales. Cause believed to be deliberate."