CASTLE Drogo was in danger of being evacuated after a fire broke out in the valley below the popular National Trust attraction yesterday (March 28).

Some 40 firefighters attended the country’s most recently built castle to tackle a blaze in the Teign Gorge.

Police were called to supervise a build-up of traffic on the nearby A382 while the evacuation plan was not executed.

The fire alarm was raised just after 11.30am with the blaze extending along a front line of 100 metres at the bottom of the River Teign valley.

Crews descended on the incident from Chagford, North Tawton, Okehampton, Exeter, Ottery St Mary, Honiton and Topsham.

Two water carriers were used as firefighters descended the slopes with main jets and beaters to vanquish the encroaching flames which jumped a few fire breaks on their journey up the ravine.

Altogether three hectares of gorse and undergrowth were destroyed in the fire’s wake.

Firefighters finally got the travelling menace under control by 5pm

A fire spokesman said the cause appeared to be ‘accidental.’