FIREFIGHTERS battled a second floor flat fire for over an hour in Chard.

Crews from Chard, Axminster, Ilminster and Crewkerne were sent to the scene on Holyrood Road in Chard shortly before 3pm yesterday afternoon (Thursday, June 22).

There was smoke billowing from the flat as the crews arrived but all people from the affected property were accounted for.

The firefighters managed to put out the blaze using two hose reel jets, a covering jet and a safety jet as well as utilizing breathing apparatus, a positive pressure ventilation fan and a carbon monoxide monitor.

The fire service say the blaze, which caused severe smoke damage to the first floor of the maisonette, was started in a front bedroom.

One male casualty was checked over by the Ambulance service.  

Holyrood Street was closed from the juction with the A358 to the junction with the A30 for about an hour while the crews battled the blaze.