SOME 20 firefighters tackled a gorse blaze at Haldon Forest yesterday (July 3) .

Crews from Bovey Tracey, Exeter, Exmouth, Topsham and Barnstaple were called to deal with the midday incident.

Beaters and a hosereel jet were used to subdue the spreading flames with the addition of hastily arranged fire breaks.

A fire team returned in the early evening to check the area which had been patrolled in the interim by Haldon Forest staff.