A large rotting log was deliberately set alight in Verulamium Park this morning (March 23), leaving firefighters with a conundrum.

Herts Advertiser: Landmark log in Verulamium Park set on fireLandmark log in Verulamium Park set on fire (Image: Archant)

At 5.47am Herts Fire were alerted to the burning tree, but the 4m lump of wood is the middle of the park and it was difficult to reach.

An eyewitness, Kern Roderick-Jones, noticed the “perplexed” firefighters while walking his dog early in the morning - the crews were worried about bogging down the engine in the muddy fields and getting stuck.

The two crews from St Albans even considered draining water from the lake, he said.

In the end they had to reverse the fire engine as close as they could and then run the hoses 400m from St Michael’s Church across the park.

It was at 8.08am that jet hoses eventually put the fire out and Kern said the firefighters believed if it had been left, it would have smouldered for days - it had already been resilient against the nights’ drizzle.

He described the log as well ablaze, but with little smoke: “It’s a shame to see it being ruined in that way, but I dare say new animals will make it their home.”