Fire officers are urging farmers to take steps to protect their livelihoods, after two more fires involving crops and hay.

Standing corn was set alight on Mere Lane Armthorpe at artound 11.30am on Sunday. Doncaster firefighters spent more than an hour tackling the blaze.

Bales of hay were also set alight at around 2pm on Sunday off Cumberland Drive and tackled by Barnsley firefighters for around two hours.

South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue attends dozens of fires on farms and farmland every year.

“We get called to dozens of field and farm fires each year in South Yorkshire, with many of these fires occurring around harvesting time.

“Not only do fires like this put lives at risk by potentially diverting fire engines away from other, life threatening incidents, they also cost farmers thousands of pounds in damage.

“The maximum sentence for arson is life in prison. People do get caught and do get prosecuted, so we urge people to report arsonists to the police,” a fire service spokesperson said.

To help prevent fires, farmers are being asked to:

• Remove hay and straw as soon as possible after harvesting
• Store fuels, fertilisers and pesticides securely – preferably under lock and key
• Check unoccupied and remote areas of the farm to make sure they are safe and secure

Anyone with information about people starting fires in their area should call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.