A SCORCHED field went up in smoke in the latest of a string of countryside fires near Bicester.

Firefighters and farmers worked together yesterday to tackle a blaze at Ashgrove Farm in Ardley, which was rapidly spreading across two acres of parched land.

The fire started during harvesting and was accidental, according to Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service, which did not give further details about the cause.

Crews hosed down the flames after a call-out at 1.40pm, travelling from Bicester, Kidlington, Oxford, Wheatley and Maidenhead fire stations.

The field is located just next to the main Chiltern Railways line to London, and the B430 road, and train drivers were warned of the smoke.

As firefighters fought the flames using beaters, water backpacks and hose reels from a 4x4 vehicle, farmers ploughed firebreaks and used slurry spreaders to dowse the area with water. 

Watch manager Lee Churchouse said: "Without the wind direction being in our favour, and the invaluable and prompt response of more than one farmer, this could have continued to spread rapidly.

"If anyone sees a fire, however large or small, a clear location of where it is is invaluable - please report it without delay."

This morning Oxfordshire County Council shared a video, urging people to inform firefighters immediately with an exact location if they see a field fire.

Yesterday the fire service released dramatic images and a video of a huge fire at a landfill site in Finmere, near Bicester.

That came just hours after a field fire at Upper Heyford, near Bicester, just hours earlier.

Last month a fire tore through a field in Langford, in a suspected arson attack, and days earlier a discarded cigarette was thought to have caused another field fire in Caversfield.