Fire engines at the scene of the blaze in Eastchurch this morning

by Lewis Dyson

An Isle of Sheppey farmer has been left counting the cost after a fire at his barn destroyed thousands of pounds of wheat and straw.

Fire crews spent all last night tackling the huge blaze at New Hook Farm, off Lower Road, Eastchurch.

Owner Stephen Attwood estimates £25,000 of straw was destroyed and wheat totalling £35,000 was ruined.

On top of that, he said the cost of replacing the barn itself could cost as much as £650,000.

It is believed a spark from a piece of machinery used to dry the crops caused the fire.

Most of the employees of SW Attwood Estates, the farm's company, had gone home for the day by the time flames picked up.