The fire service received numerous calls to smoke issuing from a retail property on Withycombe Village Road in Exmouth this afternoon (19 Aug).

According to a statement from Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue: "Two crews from Exmouth and one crew from Middlemoor attended.

"On arrival the crews confirmed that there was smoke and flames issuing from the property.

"The crews got to work quickly and used four breathing apparatus, two hose reel jets and a safety jet, plus a short extension and triple extension ladder to extinguish the fire and two thermal imaging cameras and two positive pressure ventilation fans to make the property safe.

"The fire caused extensive damage to the retail property and accommodation above."