FIREFIGHTERS from Wellington raced to help tackle a major blaze which engulfed a Somerset battery factory.

Local crews joined as many as 60 other firefighters from across Devon and Somerset who fought the inferno on Sunday, February 25.

On Sunday morning, Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service reported the blaze had rendered the building’s roof unstable and that aerial appliances had been deployed to help damp down the flames. Firefighters were forced to retreat to a safe distance from which to take on the blaze.

Crews from Chard, Axminster, Crewkerne, Taunton, Yeovil, Honiton, Charmouth, Lyme Regis and Wellington worked at the scene through the afternoon.

Crews returned on Monday to monitor the site for hotspots and to dampen them down where necessary.

A spokesperson for the fire service said the building was destroyed by the fire, which is beleived to have been caused accidentally.