FLAMES from a car fire damaged a shop in Exminster and nearby residents were evacuated for a while.

Fire crews were called to Main Road in the village early on Monday morning.

A spokesperson from Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service said: ‘We were called out to attend a vehicle fire in Exminster at 3.25am this morning. We sent one appliance from Middlemoor.

‘The fire started from the engine compartment and is believed to be accidental. The crew from Middlemoor used breathing apparatus, a hose reel jet and a thermal imaging camera to put out the fire and they left the scene at 4.16am.’