A FURNITURE maker returned home from a Newton Abbot pub at the weekend to find his woodland property on fire.

Swiss-born Martin Ruder, 63, watched as his log cabin home and most of his possessions were destroyed in the blaze at Stormsdown.

Mr Ruder revealed he had been drying out kindling wood near the stove and placed it in a log basket before leaving his home for a drink

fire crews from Ashburton, Buckfastleigh and Newton Abbot tackled the blaze until daybreak on Saturday.