Firefighters have finished tackling a barn fire in Bridport - more than 24 hours after it started.

The fire, on Pymore Lane, engulfed a barn that was storing approximately 900 tons of hay just after 1am on Thursday (August 18).

Crews from across the county rushed to the scene with Bridport Fire Station first called-out at 1.01am.

Upon arrival the crew found the barn “fully involved” in fire with a risk of spreading to adjacent buildings - including a cattle shed with livestock inside.

Owing to the severity of the situation, crews from Charmouth, Lyme Regis, Beaminster, Maiden Newton and Dorchester were tasked to assist Bridport Fire Station.

Multiple main lines were used to bring the fire under control with firefighters using two 70mm hoses and two hose reel jets to extinguish the flames.

Due to the amount of hay stored in the barn, approximately 900 tons, crews carried out a watching brief and kept the fire under a controlled burn.

A further assistance message was sent requesting a manitou digger from Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service to attend at first light to help remove the hay from the barn so that it could be extinguished.

Firefighters were able to retain control of the blaze in the early hours of Thursday morning with firefighters handing over to a five-pump relief crew at 6am who continued to extinguish the fire.

It wasn’t until yesterday afternoon (Friday, August 19) that firefighters were able to completely call off their efforts.

A spokesperson for Bridport Fire Station said: “There is still plenty of hay burning in the barn and out in the fields.

“This is producing a significant amount of smoke which is to be expected.

"This will continue to burn for some time but we will be keeping an eye on it over the next few days.”