A WORKSHOP was destroyed in a blaze off Chudleigh’s Fore Street over the weekend.

Three fire crews spent several hours dealing with the inferno which threatened to spread to nearby properties.

The building, used for woodworking, was well alight when crews arrived at the scene at 4.30am on Sunday.

The cause may never be known as the intensity of the blaze consumed any possible clues.

Firefighters think an electrical fault may to be blame - or possibly a wood-burning stove.

Fire spokesman Phil Scammells said: ‘The whole building was on fire when we got there. Our job was to protect nearby properties.

‘Fortunately, the wind was in the right direction - otherwise it could have been a lot different. There was a danger.’

He added: ‘The severity of the fire was such that it will be difficult to pinpoint exactly how it started.’

He said the fire was being treated as accidental.

And he revealed that a neighbour raised the alarm with the owner who lives near the workshop.

Two hosereel jets and a firefighting jet were used by the crews from Newton Abbot and Bovey Tracey to extinguish the flames.