Fire crews from across Devon were called to Hatherleigh yesterday to battle a thatched roof fire.

Initially eight fire crews were called to Fishleigh near Hatherleigh in North Devon yesterday at 2.30pm after reports of a chimney fire.

Crews found the chimney well alight at the single storey detached house with a thatched roof, measuring 24 metres by 10 metres, with a mezzanine floor.

They began battling the blaze with two breathing apparatus wearers and two hose reel jets.

Police closed a section of the A386 road in both ways at Bridge Street.

Western Power were also called to isolate the power supply to the house.

Fire crews from Hatherleigh, Okehampton, North Tawton, Torrington (for compressed air foam systems), Chulmleigh, Holsworthy, Bideford together with a water foam carrier from Barnstaple, the aerial ladder platform from Danes Castle in Exeter, the hose layer from Tavistock and the incident command unit with a supporting appliance from Ilfracombe were at the scene.

A further two fire appliances from Appledore and Bideford, together with a compressed air foam systems appliance and a second water bowser from Danes Castle Exeter were also called.

Yesterday a spokesperson for Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service said: "Approximately 25 per cent of the roof is well alight and fire crews are making efforts to make fire breaks in the thatch to prevent further fire spread. Fire crews are at work with one main jet from a street hydrant, two hose reel jets and six breathing apparatus wearers and are removing contents from the property."

The British Red Cross Fire and Emergency Support Services team from Plymouth were also asked to attend.

A fire spokesperson said: "50 per cent of the thatched roof was saved but there is water damage to the property.

"The majority of antique and valuable paintings were saved and removed from the property by fire crews."

The blaze comes just days after a major fire tore through a row of historic thatched cottages in a Crediton at lunchtime on Thursday, leaving families homeless.

At its height, 100 firefighters from across Devon battled the inferno as it took hold in the thatched roofs of five cottages, which are thought to date back more than 500 years, then spread to a sixth property.

The historic part of Crediton – feted as the traditional birthplace of St Boniface – was sealed off to traffic as fire crews in 25 appliances arrived to quell the blaze.