FIREFIGHTERS are battling for a third day to put out two barn fires in Worcestershire, both of which are being treated as arson.

Crews from Upton-upon-Severn, Worcester, Droitwich, Malvern, Stourport-on-Severn, Pershore and Tewkesbury were mobilised to the blazes within an hour of each other on Friday night in Upton and Hindlip.

The first blaze started at about 9.30pm on the A38 in the Holly Green area of Upton.

The fire was in a large 30 metre-by-100 metre barn, containing 100 tonnes of hay and 200 tonnes of corn.

The second blaze was in a barn in Offerton Lane in Hindlip at about 10.30pm and two fire crews from Worcester initially attended.

Further crews from Droitwich, Malvern and the environmental protection unit from Stourport were later called to assist.

Smoke

The fire was in a barn containing 150 tonnes of hay and smoke from it began billowing on to the nearby M5.

Smoke was still drifting across the carriageway early this morning.

The infernos bring the toll of barn blazes to six this year.

A spokesman for the fire service said most of those are being treated as arson.

"Unfortunately barn fires are quite common at this time of year, although we do seem to have had more this year than for a long time," he said.

"It is a particularly dangerous thing to do and is not only a waste of our time but could endanger lives."

Fire crews were still at both scenes at the time the Evening News went to press.