FIREFIGHTERS were last night still controlling the flames of a hay blaze near Steventon.

The hay, by the side of Hanney Road, caught fire on Tuesday evening and has been burning since.

Firefighters have been on the scene since 7.15pm on Tuesday.

The road is closed both ways between the B4017 Abingdon Road and Steventon Road junction.

Hanneys and Hendreds county councillor Iain Brown said: “It is a great big fire. Firemen are raking it up to burn. It is a major blaze, the flames are probably 20ft high still. There are two fire engines there as far as I can see.

“It wasn’t a barn burning, just the straw by the side of the road.

“It was a big blaze and there is still a lot of smoke. It is the smoke blowing across the road which means it’s quite dangerous for cars.

“The straw was covered waiting to be sold or exported.

“The farmers store it out by the road ready to load into a truck. We have had a few fires – about one or two a year. Whether it was an accident or arson I can’t tell you but there are people who go around setting fire to things.”

Mr Brown estimated the stack of straw on fire measured about 30ft long and 8ft high. The cause of the fire is still unknown.