THE hunt is on for an arsonist causing widespread alarm among Hampshire's farming community.

Detectives say three fires that were started within 13 hours appear to be linked, sparking fears that there is a serial firestarter at large in the county for the second time in just over 12 months.

In the latest attacks three barns within a few miles of each other were set alight, leaving the owners with massive repair bills and facing financial ruin.

Last year a similar spate of fires started deliberately at farms across the New Forest left farmers with bills of more than £100,000. It is feared that the new attacks may prove even more costly.

Police have now urged all rural residents in Hampshire to be on their guard against further attacks and to report anyone acting suspiciously.

They have also called for help in tracing a red car with four youths inside seen driving away from the site of one of the incidents in Lower Upham, just minutes after the blaze was started.

Today, just days after fire destroyed more than £100,000 of his property, one farmer who has been targeted said that the blaze had shocked and saddened him.

Trevor Davies' Fir Tree Farm smallholding in Alma Lane, Horton Heath, was the first to go up in flames just after 10.30pm on Sunday.

He said: "I can't believe how quickly it went up. My son had checked the barn at 10.15pm and it was fine, then just 15 minutes later it was engulfed in flames.

"I am in total shock. Now we have to totally rebuild the barn because it was destroyed. The barn was worth £50,000, I have lost a couple of tractors worth £12,000 each, a digger and about £12,000 worth of straw."

Police hunting those responsible said no one had so far been arrested in connection with the attacks, but urged all residents, particularly those living in rural areas, to be on their guard against repeat attacks.

Meanwhile the National Farmers Union (NFU) has expressed its concerns.

Michael Goldie, of NFU Mutual, the insurance arm of the NFU, said: "This type of barn fire is a complete disaster.

"Farmers have lost produce, stock and equipment as well as buildings, which could take six to eight months to repair.

"They have to cope with the cost of clearing up, they cannot trade because they have lost produce and they have to deal with the heartache of it all."