Crews fight barn blaze

A MASSIVE emergency response was launched this morning to extinguish 40 tons of hay that had caught fire in a derelict barn.

The barn in Leyden Road, Kirknewton, West Lothian, is also suspected to have asbestos in the roof cavity, said firefighters.

Lothian and Borders fire and rescue said crews expected the firefighting and clean-up operation to last for a large part of today.

Five fire appliances were dispatched, including three pumping appliances from Livingston and Bathgate.

Police said it was too early to say whether the cause of the blaze was suspicious.