FIRE crews from Ashburton, Newton Abbot and a water bowser from Torquay were all mobilised to reports of a vehicle fire on the A38 near Ashburton this afternoon (Friday April 6).

Arriving at the scene on the Plymouth-bound carriageway near Goodstone Cross at just after 1.30pm, crews confirmed one tractor and one grass machine were well alight.

A Fire and Rescue spokesman said: "Crews used a hose reel, a dry powder extinguisher and two breathing apparatus sets to extinguish the fire."

"The officer in charge also requested the attendance of Newton Abbot’s Environmental Protection Unit to deal with a large amount of spilt diesel."

Long delays for traffic were reported on the A38 with traffic queuing back to as far as Chudliegh Knighton in to the early evening rush hour as repairs were carried out to the carriageway.

The cause of the fire was deemed to be accidental.