MORE than 30 firefighters tackled a cottage and workshop blaze near Chagford this morning.

Six appliances went to Withecombe Cottage near Sandsgate Cross to deal with the drama which started just before 6am.

By 11am three pumps were still at the scene where the outbuilding workshop was destroyed. The domestic property suffered fire damage to the first floor and roof which collapsed.

Crews from Chagford, Moretonhampstead, Exeter, Okehampton and Bovey Tracey attended the scene after the alarm was raised at 5.45am.

A fire spokesman said the incident would be the subject of an investigation. It was too early to say what the cause might have been been.

He added that there were no reports of anyone being injured in the fire.

Six sets of breathing gear were worn by firefighters who used two hosereel jets and a covering jet to knock out the blaze.

‘Crews are now damping down and checking for hot-spots,’ he said at 11.05am.