FIREFIGHTERS rushed to the scene of a blazing caravan in Cricklade yesterday evening as shocked residents looked on.

The caravan caught light at around 8.44pm next to a house in Calcutt Street.

The mobile home was well alight when the firefighters arrived, as residents looked on in amazement. 

Its owner, Allan May, 72, said: “I was in the front room and I heard this almighty banging on the door. 

“I was wondering what on earth it was, I came out and my neighbour told me I had a fire. 

“There was a crowd building out there, about a dozen people, but I hadn’t seen or heard anything because I was on the other side of the house. 

“They must have called the fire brigade because they were there within minutes.” 

The side panel and interior of the mobile home completely melted with the heat of the fire, much of the roof has also disappeared. 

Where the tyres once were there are now just charred rims dug into the driveway. 

Fortunately nobody was near the vehicle when the fire started, there were no injuries and apart from a few burnt bushes and a melted garden seat, the rest of Allan’s property escaped without damage. 

With an engine and gas canisters on board, he knows that the end result could have been a lot worse had it not been for his alert neighbours and the firefighters’ fast response.

It is believed that the fire started as a result of human error rather than through any sort of malicious act.

“It’s a shame but it’s one of those things I suppose,” added Allan.

“Luckily it was far enough away from the house and the car that they didn’t go up with it.

“To be honest it has been off the road for about four years, it wasn’t used and didn’t have a lot of value. 

“I was going to get rid of it but that would have been a lot easier when it was in one piece.”

Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service sent two appliances to the scene – the local retained crew from Cricklade Fire Station along with a crew from Stratton

A spokesman for the fire service said: “Two breathing apparatus, two hose reel jets, one main jet and small gear were used.

“Two LPG cylinders were isolated at the scene. The mobile home was destroyed by the fire.”