FIRE, police and ambulance crews were called to a major asbestos alert after a blaze at Bishopsteignton last night.

An exclusion zone was set up amid fears of high-level asbestos pollution and exploding gas cannisters as a holiday cottage on the banks of the River Teign was destroyed in the blaze.

Eight fire appliances and 38 firefighters were at the scene as dark clouds of smoke could be seen billowing from the burning building.

Fire crews had to pump water from more than half a mile away and cross three fields and the railway line to reach the scene near Wear Farm at Luxton's Steps on the river bank.

Trains in both directions along the nearby railway line were stopped temporarily when the blaze was first reported at 4.50pm.

Fire incident commander Ian Radford said: "We are dealing with the possibility it is contaminated with several forms of asbestos.

"We've had to take precautions and we've had to declare it as a contamination scene.

"We have asked the police to set up a number of blocks to stop the public getting anywhere near the scene."

The exclusion zone reached from the main A381 Newton Abbot to Teignmouth Road at Bishopsteignton to the river.

Fire chief Radford, speaking at the scene, said: "There was a building eight metres by 10 metres engulfed in flames.

"We don't know the cause of the fire at the moment.

"We are currently trying to establish the level of contamination.

"It may be OK but we are taking precautions because it's an old building.

"We are starting to collect samples of what we believe to be asbestos for analysis.

"We are erring on the side of caution by setting up an exclusion zone until we have decontaminated the area."

Decontamination equipment was taken to the scene at 7pm to treat firefighters who had been at the incident.

Last night Teignbridge environment health officer Nick Cowan was assessing the risk at the scene. He said: "I will assess the situation, decide on further action and find out about any clean-up issues."

Firemen had to run hoses half a mile across fields to reach the blaze.

Fire engines in relays were collecting water from a hydrant at Metro Motors at Bishopsteignton.

Fire engines attended from Teignmouth, Newton Abbot, Paignton and Torquay and a 4x4 from Dawlish. The Dawlish vehicle was used to ferry equipment across the fields.

Trevor David, of Wear Farm, whose land was crossed by firemen accessing the incident said: "This is the third time the fire service have needed to cross my land in the last three years.

"One of those was a fire at one of the chalets, and another was a suspected arson at a boat on the shoreline."

A fire headquarters spokesman said: "They stopped trains coming along the line because of concerns about exploding gas cylinders."

Eye-witness Mary Gilbert was watching the drama unfold from Coombe Cellars pub at Combeinteignhead on the opposite bank.

She said: "There is a house on fire across the water.

"The fire engines can't get down because it's right on the riverside over the fields.

"I heard a couple of explosions.

"It's been on fire for about 15 minutes now and the fire engines are having problems physically getting close to the property.

"One train went past towards Newton Abbot."

One elderly resident of Bishopsteignton said he was walking by the river just as the fire started, although he did not realise the severity at the time.

He said: "I walk along there every day and I saw burning, but I thought it was just a bonfire."