A LANDOWNER has praised Hampshire Fire and Rescue and the police in tackling a blaze at Hartley Park Farm Business Centre on the B3006 Selborne road near Alton on Tuesday evening which destroyed two barns.

Simon Butler said had it not been for the speed and skill of firefighters in tackling and containing the blaze, what was a bad night for the family and their business tenants could have been a lot worse.

The call-out to the emergency services came just before 7pm after a police officer cycling past noticed smoke coming from one of the barns and knocked at the farmhouse door to alert the owners.

For full story, see this week's Alton Herald.