Cheddar and Winscombe firefighters among 15 crews who tackled blaze at Bridgwater College

Firefighters from Cheddar and Winscombe are among 15 crews who have been tackling a large fire at Bridgwater College this morning (February 18).

Just after 3am, Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service received a call about a large fire involving a building at the Bridgwater campus of Bridgwater and Taunton College.

There were initially 15 fire engines from Bridgwater, Taunton, Burnham-on-Sea, Nether Stowey, Street, Glastonbury, Wellington, Somerton, Cheddar, Winscombe and Weston-super-Mare and various specialist appliances and officers dealing with the incident at the building in College Way.

People in the local area were being advised to keep their windows shut and to avoid the area.

This building affected houseds the workshops for the motorcycle and motorsport departments, and measures 80m by 60m.

All the single-storey sections of the building were involved in the fire. At 6.15am, crews were still containing the fire and protecting fire spread to the other parts of the building.

A spokesperson for the college said: "Due to a fire at the campus last night, the Bridgwater campus is closed to all staff and students today.

"This is a precautionary measure while the cause of the fire is investigated and the fire service remain on campus. The college wishes to thank the emergency services.

"Two workshops - Motorcycle and Motorsport - have been identified as being affected. Any telephone interviews scheduled today will continue as planned."