A COUPLE have been devastated after the barn conversion home they planned to move into just before Christmas was destroyed by fire last night.

Their furnished home near Chudleigh Knighton was on the brink of completion when flames ripped through the two-storey renovation off the Kingsteignton Road.

Some 30 firefighters from across Teignbridge tackled the blaze which was well advanced by the time they arrived at the scene at Bellamarsh just before 9pm.

Crews from Newton Abbot, Bovey Tracey, Ashburton, Torquay, Teignmouth and Exeter did their best to save the empty home.

Fire investigation officer Adge Tilke said outside the ruined home this morning: ‘Yesterday this was their pride and joy. Now it’s a scene of complete devastation.’

He said it was too early to pinpoint the cause of the fire, although he was confident there were no suspicious circumstances.

The burnt-out shell of the home cut a sorry figure at first light when the full extent of the damage became apparent.

The roof was holed by the flames and upstairs floors had collapsed into rooms below with a wrecked bed spotted incongruously resting up against the kitchen sink.

Group manager Tilke, based at Exeter, said: ‘This was a very severe fire. It was well developed before we arrived. It could take some time to establish the cause. It’s far too early to suggest what that is at the moment.’

Flames, which could be seen from the A38, had already shot through to the roof by the time the emergency services were ready to fight the fire.

Officer Tilke said it was an opportune time to remind people to take care in the home as the festive season approached.

He repeated frequent fire safety calls for smoke alarms to be checked and the utmost caution to be taken when using candles.

He said any smoke alarms at the wrecked home were unlikely to be heard behind the remote property’s double glazing.

An aerial ladder platform had to be drafted in from Exeter to help extinguish the fire.

Water supplies in the area initially posed difficulties because of the lack of hydrants.

Waters bowsers from Torquay and Exeter were called to overcome the problem.

One witness at the scene said: ‘The fire was going very well. It was quite a scene with all the fire pumps there. I counted five of them. I’m glad no one was inside.’

Fire crews spent three hours at the incident.

Jets and ladders were used to knock-out the fire.

The property owner was too upset to make any comment from the scene today.