Farmers plough firebreaks to slow blaze

♦ Farmers in Oxfordshire helped fireman tackle a huge blaze by ploughing firebreaks in their fields.

The harvest is well under way across the country, but on Saturday night farmers ploughed up part of their profits to save a pig farm.

After a summer of raging wildfires, emergency crews from three counties were called to Ewelme Downe Farm, Wallingford. The ploughing decreased the speed of the spread of the fire,

Dave Bray, Oxfordshire fire service group manager, said the incident showed “how well fire and rescue services across the Thames Valley are able to work together. We were also aided greatly by the local farmers.”

The fire is believed to have been accidental. After weeks without rain, dry grassland is susceptible to fire.

Last night more than 225 firemen were tackling a large grass fire in east London that had sent smoke billowing over parts of the capital. Up to 40 fire engines went to Wanstead Flats near Stratford amid reports some residents had been forced to leave their homes.