A BARN was damaged in a blaze caused by the 'spontaneous combustion' of hay and straw.

Firefighters were called to a barn fire in Misterton, West Crewkerne at 7.09am this morning, after hay and straw, which is heated, 'spontaneously combusted', causing 20 per cent structural damage to the barn.

Crews from Beaminster, Chard, Martock, Taunton, Bridgwater and Yeovil were all called to the scene, where firefighters used two hose reel jets, two main jets and 10 breathing kits to extinguish the blaze.

A spokeswoman for Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service said: "It was a single-storey barn in Misterton, West Crewkerne which had been damaged after fifty tonnes of hay and straw, which is heated, self-ignited.

Dorset Echo: Picture: Beaminster Fire StationPicture: Beaminster Fire Station

"The spontaneous combustion caused 20 per cent damage to the barn but it didn't spread to anywhere else.

"Crews used two hose reel jets, two main jets and 10 breathing apparatus as there was lots of smoke.

"There were no injuries to any people or animals. The stop came in at 11.41am."