‘Sixty five years of work gone — it was heartbreaking’ (From Northwich Guardian)

Family forced to watch livelihood go up in smoke

12:20pm Friday 7th November 2008 in News By Frances Kindon

A BARN fire which caused hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of damage could have been started by a firework.

Eight fire engines battled for almost 24-hours to put out the blaze at Swallow Farm in Dalefords Lane, which started at 9.43pm on Saturday.

Neighbours had to be evacuated because acetylene cylinders, used for welding and cutting, were caught up in the inferno and could have exploded.

Fifty tonnes of hay, 50 tonnes of barley, farming equipment and around six tractors were all destroyed by the flames. The cost of the damage will run into hundreds of thousands. of pounds.

Farmer Ted Leigh, 65, who lives at Swallow Farm with his wife and children, described his horror as he was forced to watch his living go up in smoke.

He said: “There was nothing we could do except stand there and watch. My wife has lived here all her life, 65-years of work just gone. It was awful, heartbreaking.

We were all evacuated from the house because of the gas cylinders. When they go up, they go up like a bomb.

Farmer Ted Leigh

“We were all evacuated from the house because of the gas cylinders. When they go up, they go up like a bomb.

“To make matters worse we found empty rocket casing from fireworks in the field next to the barn so we think it’s got something to do with that.

“We get a lot of mither with people coming up the back in their cars and to mess around, it is getting beyond a joke now. This is too much.”

Insp Dave Snasdell, of Winsford NPU, who attended the blaze confirmed: “Investigations have revealed that fireworks were being set off in a secluded spot close to the farm, which is in a lane that runs from Whitegate to the Scout Camp at Sandiway.”

Months of cleaning up the debris from the 100m by 150m barn lie ahead for the Leighs, who have vowed to keep going.

“We’ve just got to sort the insurance out and start again,” Ted said. “It’s going to be a long process and we’ve got to clear up first. That’s going to be a massive job.

“The insurance assessor has been out to have a look and he said he’s never seen a barn fire so bad.”

Insp Snasdell added: “It was a large fire, the family is devastated, the damage will be well into the hundreds of thousands and it’s their living.

“We want to speak to anyone who saw anyone on the lane at around 10pm on Saturday night. People with information should call Sgt Colin Westgate on 01244 613258, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”