A FARMYARD barn blaze early on Tuesday destroyed two tractors and damaged another belonging to Atherton farmer John Blakemore.

Mr Blakemore, 73, and his wife Joan were roused from their beds at 4am by neighbour Keith Latham who had been disturbed by the noise, but by that time the brick-built barn, where the tractors were housed, was well alight.

Mr Blakemore, whose family have farmed for three generations at Langley Hall in Platt Lane, said: "It was too late to do anything but wait for the fire brigade. The asbestos roof has gone and two Massey Ferguson tractors worth about £10,000 were destroyed. A third tractor in there was also damaged but we don't know how badly yet.

"There is a possibility the fire started because of an electrical short on one of the tractors but none had been run since last Sunday.

"There were a couple of gas bottles in the barn but they were empty. We may have to borrow machinery but it won't affect the running of the farm."

Mr and Mrs Blakemore and their tenant neighbours Mr Latham and Paddy Mulcahy, who live in cottages adjoining the farm, watched as firefighters from Atherton, Hindley and Leigh fought the blaze. A few years ago arsonists destroyed a hay barn at the farm.

A fire brigade spokesman said: "Arson was suspected at first but we are now working on the theory of an electrical fault on one of the tractors."