ARSONISTS are suspected of starting a fire which destroyed a crop of barley in Kidderminster at the weekend.

Two engines from Kidderminster, as well as special off-road vehicles from Stourport, were called to the fire in a field off Stanklyn Lane which wrecked between four and five acres of the crop on Sunday afternoon.

A spokesman said: "The field backs on to Spennells and we suspect the fire was started deliberately, probably by children."