FIRE crews from all three Peeblesshire stations were called into action to tackle two major farm fires.

Police and fire investigators are trying to establish if the barn blazes near Earlston and St Boswells were started deliberately.

But the fires, which started around an hour apart, stretched Borders firefighters to their limit.

The first call to emergency services came from Purvishaugh Farm, near Earlston, at 18 minutes past midnight.

As firefighters from Lauder and Galashiels initially tackled the flames another blaze at a farm near St Boswells was reported.

Crews from Jedburgh and Selkirk attended at Longnewton Farm from 01.24am, where around 500 tonnes of hay as well as fertilizer was alight.

A spokeswoman for the Scottish Fire Service said: “The barn near Earlston was fully loaded and further crews were requested to prevent the fire spreading to surrounding properties.

“Asbestos within the roof also caused problems.” It is believed that up to £100,000 worth of damage and lost supplies have been caused at both fires.

Longnewton farmer James Allen said: “A neighbour called me at 1.15am, I arrived at the same time as the fire crews.” Throughout the night additional crews from Peebles, West Linton, Galashiels and Duns were called out to initial fire near Earlston.

Firefighters from Innerleithen and Hawick were also called to the barn blaze at Longnewton with additional relief appliances from Dalkeith and Penicuik arriving around breakfast time.

Both barns are just a few yards from minor roads.

The B6397 near Earlston, between A6105 and Mellerstain road end, was closed for much of the morning.

And the B6400 between Bewlie and Longnewton was also shut throughout much of Thursday as damping down continued.

Police Scotland say it is too soon to link the two fires but a full investigation will be carried out.

A spokesman for Police Scotland said: “Police in the Borders attended two separate barn fires in St Boswells and Earlston in the early hours of Thursday morning.

“Enquiries are ongoing and police are working closely with their partners in the fire service.

“Anyone with information which can assist police with their enquiries is asked to call 101.”