Burnt warehouse faces demolition

About 100 firefighters were called to the fire

A car parts warehouse may have to be pulled down following a major fire.

More than 100 firefighters tackled the fire in an industrial estate in Exeter.

The fire at Merriot House in Hennock Road North, in Marsh Barton, started just before 0400 GMT on Monday.

Seventeen Devon Fire and Rescue Service crews from 11 towns and villages around the county attended the incident.

The warehouse may have to be demolished

Parts of the warehouse collapsed, but the fire brigade said no one was reported trapped or hurt. When they arrived, crews had to deal with cars that were ablaze inside the premises.

The fire then spread to other parts of the building because of petrol inside it.

Fire brigade spokesman Dave Cannaford said firefighters could only work from outside the building because fears about safety.

He said: "There were certain exclusion zones because the local building inspector warned that some parts of the building threatened to collapse."

Inspectors have now said the building may have to be demolished.

The warehouse houses the firm ALS Motor Parts.

Staff redeployed

The company has said £750,000 in stock has been destroyed and the warehouse had only just undergone a £42,000 upgrade.

Fifty eight people work for the business. They are now to be deployed elsewhere to another of the company's sites.

The warehouse is near one of Exeter's main arterial routes.

Police closed several roads in the area, which caused major disruption to motorists on Monday morning.

The cause of the blaze is under investigation.