AN historic farmhouse near Bridgwater has been completely destroyed by fire this morning (Friday).

Eight fire crews from across Somerset were called to tackle the blaze at Coxhill Farm in North Newton at around 4am.

Eyewitnesses reported the inferno from as far away as the M5 motorway after flames quickly took hold of the thatched property which is believed to have been empty at the time.

Bridgwater Mercury:

 

Jane White, who lives next door to the centuries-old farmhouse, told the Mercury how she was woken by another neighbour before rushing out to see the building engulfed by the fire.

“The sky was just lit up,” she said.

“It had really taken hold and the flames were coming out the roof.

“We’re not sure exactly when it started but it was well on its way by the time we came out.”

Firefighters arrived on the scene not long after and battled the furnace using hoses and water from the nearby Bridgwater/Taunton canal.

Bridgwater Mercury:

By 8am the fire had been extinguished with crews remaining on scene to dampen down the remains of the building.

The farmhouse, which was up for let, was so badly damage that Sedgemoor building inspectors deemed it a safety hazard and called a demolition team to pull the remains down.

The cause of the fire is as yet unknown with fire investigation officers refusing to rule out the possibility it was started deliberately.

Andy Justice, station manager at Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue, who was at the scene told the Mercury: “We are currently following up lines of inquiries however the extent of the fire is going to hamper the investigation.

“At the moment we can’t say if the fire was accidental or deliberate.”