An Angus farmer has blasted thugs who defied lockdown to torch straw bales.
Louise Nicoll, of Newton of Fothringham Farm near Inverarity, said the blaze was “heartbreaking” and appealed for anyone with information to contact police.
The fire broke out at around 5.30pm on Tuesday and one fire appliance from Dundee attended the scene.
Ms Nicoll said although bales can combust when their core temperature rises, the bales were burning “from the outside inwards”.
“There are also very clear tyre marks of a vehicle leaving the scene quickly and a vehicle was seen in the area,” she added.
She said the bales were crucially important for the farm’s livestock in the weeks before they are let outside.
“I honestly cannot believe people could do this.
“We are farmers at the moment who are fighting every day, working every single hour god sends to produce food for this country, and you get people that come and do this.
“It’s so inconsiderate. This is lockdown. Why are you out on the road out here? Why have you come here?
“It’s just heartbreaking when you work so hard.
“Stay home and save lives. Don’t have the emergency services having to come out and deal with something like this.”
Ms Nicoll said it was lambing season and farmers had been working very long hours.
“The last thing we need to be doing is this,” she said.
She made an appeal for people living in the area to report any suspicious activity around the time of the fire.
“Stay home, save lives, that’s what you’re meant to be doing just now, not driving around the countryside causing havoc and causing problems for other people,” she added.
