A MAN has died after a barn caught fire near Wellington.

Emergency services were called to a barn in Runnington at 3.04pm on Saturday (April 4) after receiving reports of the fire.

Fire engines from Wellington, Wiveliscombe, Bridgwater and Taunton were sent to the incident, where sadly a man had died.

On arrival, the firefighters found the large building well alight and they requested further backup.

A spokesperson for Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue said: "The additional appliances mobilised were: Two further fire engines from Taunton, an incident command unit and off road vehicle from Honiton, a water foam carrier from Danes Castle, the Environmental Protection Unit and a fire engine from South Molton, and a welfare unit from Bridgwater.

"The welfare vehicle from Burnham-on-Sea was also mobilised.

"Crews used two breathing apparatus, two main jets ,two compressed air foam jets, two main jets with water supplied by water bowsers, one safety jet, lighting equipment and the thermal imaging camera to extinguish the fire.

"The single storey commercial building was one hundred per cent damaged in the fire."

Avon and Somerset Police has referred the death to the coroner.

The force has confirmed it is not being treated as a suspicious death.

A spokesperson said: "I can confirm that a man sadly died in a barn fire in Runnington, near Wellington on 4 April.

"The matter has been referred to the coroner as a non-suspicious sudden death.

"We are continuing to make enquiries on behalf of the coroner."

Tony Williams, the senior coroner for Somerset, has confirmed the death has been reported to his office.

He said: "Enquiries are presently ongoing and there is no other information presently in the public domain."

He added the inquest would be opened in due course.