LAST week's devastating arson attack on North Hill, Minehead, looks set to cost Somerset taxpayers at least £60,000.

Somerset Fire Brigade's chief fire officer Clive Kemp said the figure was a conservative estimate.

And rather than being spent on new equipment and training, thousands of pounds would have to be diverted towards footing the bill.

The blaze, which raged for almost four days, destroyed 35 acres of heathland, killing hundreds of animals and birds, including young deer calves.

Firefighters faced potentially hazardous conditions as the fire - all the time being fanned by strong winds - spread to steep hillside areas.

A fire brigade spokesman said: "Crews were heavily engaged for many hours in hot, dusty and very exhausting conditions in containing the spread of the fire, which at times threatened to engulf a holiday caravan site and its residents.

"Firefighters had to work in extremely difficult conditions as the fire spread to steep hillside areas and inaccessible places.

"This placed them in hazardous conditions and vehicles had to negotiate very tough terrain to try and hold the fire spread."

Mr Kemp confirmed the cause of the fire had been "deliberate ignition" and added: "Not only were the firefighters engaged for long periods, they were also kept away from their normal place of work, as the majority have other occupations and attend incidents as part-time personnel.

"This causes problems for their employers in that the firefighters' absence is unplanned and in the case of this fire, was for a very long period."

Exmoor National Park Authority has already estimated it could take up to eight years for the area to recover.