Barn fire in Halberton near Cullompton

A barn fire in a Devon village threatened to dramatically escalate last night (Tuesday) as it was storing scores of highly explosive gas cannisters.

The fire service was called at 5.50pm with reports of a barn on fire along the Five Bridges Road in Halberton, just outside Cullompton.

Fire crews, five fire engines and a water bowser were sent from six stations.

They found a barn measuring around 10x25 metres burning.

The situation became even more dangerous as the building was storing 20 liquid petroleum gas bottles, three propane cannisters and a butane cannister.