FIREFIGHTERS have been tackling a barn blaze in Buckland St Mary this morning.

Crews from Chard, Ilminster, Honiton, Bridgwater and Axminster have been on the scene at Bishopswood Road since around 5am today (Wednesday, March 21).

On arrival the crews found a two storey agricultural store with a slate roof was already well alight.

Western Power was called to isolate power as the fire was beginning to spread to an adjoining farm cottage with solar panels on the roof.

Two breathing apparatus wearers had been committed to the roof space of the cottage to monitor and prevent the fire spreading to the domestic dwelling.

At 6am this morning a spokesman for Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue said: "Fire fighting operations were taking place in three sectors using two main jets and one safety jet which had stopped the fire spreading to the house."

At 9am the firefighters started scale down the incident.

The barn was completely destroyed in the fire with the cottage receiving slight fire and smoke damage, as did a workshop the other side of the barn.

The spokesman confirmed the cause of the fire was believed to have been accidental.