A young scout's quick reactions helped Devon fire crews when a telehandler caught fire on his family's farm on Sunday morning (May 7) - and fire crews were called to a second telehandler on fire just an hour later.

At just after 9am the fire service was called with reports of a telehandler on fire in Yarcombe.

A fire engine from Chard and one from Honiton station were mobilised immediately, along with a water carrier from the Danes Castle station in Exeter.

On arrival crews got to work on the smoke and flames issuing from the machine. Wearing breathing apparatus they used a hose reel jet, a foam jet and a thermal imaging camera to fight the fire.

They also used environmental packs to stop any hazardous run off entering the water course.

The 1st Chard Scout Group thanked Chard Fire Station on social media later that morning, saying that Oliver, a young scout, had been able to act quickly during the incident, thanks to what the scouts learnt on a visit to the fire station.

The group wrote: "We recieved this message from one of our parents this morning.

"'So grateful for the things you do for scouting, one of our machines caught fire this morning and Oliver remembered everything he had been taught at the Chard Fire Station visit.'"

"We are incredibly proud of Oliver and grateful that due to his swift actions nobody was hurt and help was summoned quickly."

Just two hours later, the Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service was called to a second telehandler on fire, this one being on the A39 near Carhampton.

Two fire engines were sent from Minehead, supported by a water carrier from Bridgwater.

When the crews arrived they found a fire within the engine compartment of the telehandler, which was parked in a layby off the main road. 

Firefighters put teh fire out using a hose reel jet, small tools, a hydraulic ram and a thermal imaging camera.

The causes of both fires have been confirmed as being accidental.