A farm shed belonging to retired farming brothers John and Harold Ward began to blaze shortly after 9pm.

The firefighters used main pumps, an aerial ladder platform and water bowser to tackle the blaze.

Whitby and Robin Hood's Bay crews were called to the scene just before 9.20pm and within six minutes requested back-up from Lythe, Scarborough and Danby crews.

Whitby fire crew remained at the scene overnight for 12 hours, damping down the hotspots.

John Ward told the Gazette yesterday morning: "The shed was full of hay and straw which I would say was worth about £800.

"Our family has had the farm since 1931 and me and my brother took it over in 1963.

"We think this fire had been started deliberately as there was nothing electrical there which could have caused it to start burning.

"It was not kids, there aren't that many kids up here and we have never had any trouble with kids in all these years.

"We have never had a fire.

"I stayed up till about midnight. The firemen have done a good job, they have been brilliant. There were five appliances there at one time.

"We will have to re-build the shed, I am still trying to get in touch with the insurance company but I will get there. We sold up in June as I am 68 and have a bad hip and my brother Harold is 73 and we are retired now."

At the time of going to press North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service were unable to deny or confirm whether the fire had been started deliberately.

A fire investigation officer was due to attend the scene yesterday to establish the cause of the blaze.