Fires which destroyed three barns in rural Hampshire are being treated as suspected arson.

Two barns within three miles of each other were both engulfed in flames at about the same time.

It took fire crews across the county more than four hours to fight the flames at the barns in Horton Heath and Lower Upham.

Police believe the two may be connected due to the similar timings and close distance of the incidents and they are treating both as suspicious.

The hay barn fire at Fir Tree Farm, Fir Tree Lane in Horton Heath began just after 10.30pm and five fire crews were needed to get it under control.

Firefighters from Eastleigh, St Mary's and Lyndhurst were called out to tackle the fire.

More than £2,000 damage was caused by the blaze, leaving the barn, 10m by 25m, severely damaged and causing damage to the large amount of equipment and produce that was stored inside.

Just minutes later crews were called out to a hay barn fire at Big Muddy Farm, Alma Lane in Lower Upham. More than 50 tons of hay was destroyed, causing £1,800 damage to the barn but the farm's heavy plant machinery was removed from the barn to safety before any real damage was caused.

Police also believe that a third incident where a firework was posted through an external letterbox at Woodward Farm, Alma Lane, is linked to the barn fires.

Fortunately the firework failed to explode and only minor damage was caused to the post box. As the letterbox was not attached to a property no one was injured.

Fire crews were then called out to their third barn fire in 13 hours, when a barn in Salisbury Road, Shootash, near Romsey, was found ablaze.

The storage barn, which was 40m by 20m, and contained straw and farm machinery, was left severely damaged. Firefighters remained at the scene for several hours to put out all the flames.

The cause of this barn fire is also being treating as suspicious.

A pile of used tyres, 20ft of fencing and three large trees were destroyed in a further, unrelated fire in Eastleigh.

The blaze started at Quick Fit Tyre yard, Winchester Road at 12.30am, taking an hour for firefighters to get it under control.

This fire is not being treated as suspicious at this time.