THREE fire crews were mobilised when a blaze broke out in an outbuilding of a Watchet house in the early hours of Thursday (July 31).

Firefighters from Minehead and Williton tackled the outbreak, which proved to be caused by a tumble drier which was already well alight when the first emergency teams arrived.

The tumble drier was in an outbuilding next to the kitchen of the home, in Woodland Road.

The alarm was sounded shortly before 1.30 am and it took some time to deal with the incident, which caused a considerable amount of smoke.

The outbuilding was totally destroyed and the property also suffered smoke and water damage.

The fire crews needed six sets of breathing apparatus to fight the blaze, two hose reel jets, a safety jet, a triple extension ladder, and a positive pressure ventilation fan.

Thermal imaging cameras were used to check for any hotspots which might have been missed.

A Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue spokesperson said the cause of the fire was believed to be accidental.