A MAN has been arrested in a case of suspected arson after fire crews spent ten hours at the weekend battling a blaze.

Hampshire police have confirmed that a 36-year-old man has been arrested but has now been released under investigation.

Firefighters from across Hampshire battled through Friday night to put out a fire which was burning at 1,100C.

Crews were called to the incident at Hazle Copse Farm in Beaulieu at about 9pm on Friday. The fire left a farm building measuring 30ft by 15ft completely destroyed.

Mel Port, 55, a shopkeeper from Lymington, who took a photo of the fire, said: “Three fire tenders arrived and made their way into the field but disappeared out of sight.

“As I passed this morning on my way to work there was still a light plume of smoke emitting from the barn.”

A water carrier and three engines were on the scene all night to keep the blaze contained and prevent it from spreading.

Beaulieu Fire Station wrote on Twitter: “At 9.17pm we were mobilised to a fully-developed barn fire in Beaulieu involving 350 tons of hay and straw with temperatures exceeding 1,100C. Many thanks to the support from Brockenhurst, Hardley, Hythe, Lyndhurst, Eastleigh and St Mary’s.”

A police spokesperson said: "We were called just before 9.30pm on Friday, following a fire at a barn in Hatchett Lane. Officers were deployed to the scene and a search was carried out. A 36-year-old man from Beaulieu was arrested on suspicion of arson. He was released but remains under investigation."