Evacuation in farm blaze

Residents fled as the fire engulfed the structure on Mortimer Road, Penistone, near the Cubley Arms pub, shortly after 6am today.

Three appliances attended, including two retained pumps from Stocksbridge and Penistone and one full-time crew from Barnsley.

A fire spokeswoman said two officers in breathing gear were sent in and three large hose reel jets were used to tackle the flames. An acetylene cylinder was found in the barn and a hose was trained on it to keep it cool, she added.

The blaze was under control by 8am but fire fighters were set to be damping down for some time.

It was too early to say what caused the blaze, she added.