Building 'at risk of collapse' as fire rages

Firefighters say a building is at risk of collapse as they try to extinguish flames which have "completely engulfed" it.

Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service crews were called to a blaze at a derelict building at the Saxonvale site in Frome, Somerset, at about 15:00 BST. The service said no casualties had been reported but warned people in the area to keep windows and doors closed.

The site has been empty for decades, although a community-backed group secured planning permission to redevelop it, despite it still being owned by Somerset Council.

Jonny Buckland, an architect near the scene, said the blaze was "heartbreaking" for the town.

"It's a heritage asset - it's one of the few warehouses left in the town.

"It has so much, had so much potential to be turned into amazing art spaces and creative and cultural spaces - we really hope that it can still have a life... it's a huge loss," he added.

Somerset Council, which is trying to sell the site, said it would be "inappropriate to speculate on the cause, extent of the damage or any implications for the site while the response is ongoing".

"We would like to thank the emergency services involved for their efforts in responding to the incident," it added.

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