Police launch appeal after vintage tractors worth £35,000 destroyed in barn fire

Police are investigating a suspicious barn fire near Southleigh, Colyton, in which three vintage tractors worth £35,000 were destroyed.

It is believed the fire was started deliberately between 8pm and 10pm, on Sunday, April 11 at Wiscombe Farm, Seaton Road, Colyton.

The owner of the tractors had checked the barn at about 8pm and it was locked and secured, but the barn was found to be well alight at about 10pm that night.

Three antique tractors, worth more than £35,000, which were stored in the barn, were completely destroyed in the blaze.

It is believed an attempt was made to take the tractors but when that failed, the barn was set alight.

The barn fire was attended by Seaton and Sidmouth fire crews.

Seaton fire crew said it had been tasked with ensuring firefighter safety and that of road users by closing the road, but was "saddened" to discover that a police road closed sign and a blue flashing warning had been stolen.

A statement on the crew's Facebook page said: "This put firefighter safety in jeopardy and anyone who may have decided to venture down the road to the location of the extensive fire.

"This is vital safety equipment and critical to the safety of everyone at incidents like this."

Police are calling on anyone who was travelling along the road – with the area circled in red in the photo above – at around the time of the fire and may have seen anything suspicious, people or cars around this location, to come forward.

If you witnessed the incident or have any information that could help the police with their enquiries, please email police at [email protected] or call 101, quoting crime reference CR/028674/21.

Alternatively, information can be passed anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 or via the charity's website at www.crimestoppers-org.uk

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