Lorry-load of hay bales catches fire in Ottery St Mary
- Published
A lorry driver has steered a load of burning hay bales to safety after the 20-tonne load caught fire on the outskirts of a Devon town.
The bales caught fire when the vehicle was driving on Tipp Hill, on the outskirts of Ottery St Mary.
The driver was not aware of the fire at first and burning straw fell, leaving a 100m (330ft) trial on the road and igniting 400m (1,300ft) of hedgerow.
Fire crews extinguished it after the lorry stopped in an empty field.
Cab destroyed
Devon and Somerset Fire Service said it had received a number of calls from members of the public.
Fire appliances and crews were dispatched from Colyton, Exeter, Honiton and Sidmouth.
The lorry cab was also destroyed in the fire but the driver, Cedric Dare, escaped uninjured.
He said after he realised what was happening: "My hand was on the horn and I was coming through. There was nobody going to stop me to get to the field."
No-one was injured in the incident.