A Mearns farming family has lost at least £20,000 after a massive barn fire destroyed nearly 800 bales of straw.
The straw bales were stacked in the barn at East Balhagarty Farm, near Laurencekirk.
Firefighters were called out at about noon on Wednesday, and were then sent back about four hours later – when they spent hours battling to contain the flames.
Police and fire officers are now investigating the blazes, which are understood to have been separate incidents.
James Sephton, whose parents Jim and Gail own the barn, estimated the cost of replacing the animal bedding to be around £20,000. He said: “I had between 750 and 800 bales in there – and with the prices going up this year, I reckon we’ll be looking at around £25 a bale to buy more back in.
“We are waiting to speak to the insurance assessors, but we will have to find somewhere else for the cattle to go this winter.
“It looks like my parents could now be without power for two months – they also might have to find alternative accommodation.”
He added: “I’d been down there in the morning, but maybe just 20 minutes later the whole thing was up at the furthest away end. The fire later on in the afternoon was at the other nearest end.”
Two fire crews from Montrose, one from Laurencekirk and another from Stonehaven, along with a water carrier and an incident unit, remained at the farm until about noon yesterday – a full 24 hours after the first call came.
Horse and cattle breeders Mr and Mrs Sephton sen have been at the farm for the 28 years.
Mrs Sephton said that it “could have been a lot worse” and they were thankful that no-one and no cattle had been injured.