TENS of thousands of pounds worth of damage was caused after arsonists targeted a barn on a Nantyglo farm.

Lee Foote, 39, of Waun-Ebbw Road, Winchestown, who owns the farm at the rear of the Brynawelon estate, Winchestown, said the attack caused more than £40,000 worth of damage.

Arsonists set the tin-sheet barn alight on Monday night, damaging all the property inside, including a five tonne mini-digger and a Ford tractor.

A brand new Ifor Williams trailer, two generators, new gates and rolls of wire were also in the barn as well as 150 bales of straw and 80 bales of hay which were being stored ready for the new season. One bale is estimated to weigh around half a tonne.

Out of the equipment damaged, only the mini digger was insured.

Six fire engines were called to the incident at 10.27pm after Mr Foote’s son Rhys, 18, discovered the blaze.

He locked up the farm around 15 minutes before the fire started, but as he was driving down the road he noticed the smoke and realised it was the barn was on fire.

A total of 26 firefighters battled the blaze and crews were still damping down the 20 metre square barn yesterday morning.

Mr Foote, who owns around 200 sheep, four horses and 17 pedigree Welsh black cattle at the farm, also owns a farm in Grosmont, along with a plant hire business.

He said: "It has taken me years to get this farm to how it is and now it has all been ruined. My head is still all over the place. I am not sure what I am going to do yet.”

A Gwent Police spokeswoman confirmed the fire is being treated as suspicious and said police are appealing for information from anyone in the area between 10pm and 11pm on Monday night.

Witnesses should contact DC Marc Gardner on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.