Thames Valley Police have launched a manhunt after a large fire involving hay bales broke out on a rural road in west Oxfordshire.
Incident and response
The blaze occurred at about 2pm on Sunday 19 July on Hinton Waldrist Road towards the A420, an area in the vicinity of Faringdon. Officers say roughly 600 hay bales were ablaze when they attended.
Police report that three men were seen running from the scene. As enquiries continue, officers are asking anyone who was in the area at the time, or who may have dash‑cam or other footage, to come forward.
"We are appealing for witnesses following an arson in Faringdon. Anyone who was in the area with dash-cam footage or any information on the incident should call 101 or make a report on our website, quoting reference 43260369950."
Descriptions of suspects
Thames Valley Police have issued descriptions of the three men they wish to trace. Details released so far are limited to clothing, approximate age and builds.
| Suspect | Description |
|---|---|
| 1 | White man, early 20s, about 5ft 10ins, medium build, fair hair, wearing a light blue shirt |
| 2 | White man, early 20s, about 5ft 10ins, wearing a white t-shirt |
| 3 | Wearing a black t-shirt (no further details released) |
How the public can help
- Call Thames Valley Police on 101 with any information.
- Report online via the Thames Valley Police website, quoting reference 43260369950.
- Submit any dash‑cam or private CCTV footage from the Hinton Waldrist Road/A420 area around 2pm on 19 July.
Arson in rural areas can pose risks to livestock, property and the local environment, and large agricultural fires can be difficult to control. The force has not released further details about the cause of the fire or whether anyone was injured.
Investigations are ongoing. Anyone with relevant information is urged to contact Thames Valley Police promptly and quote the incident reference above.
