The fire services assisted and helped other emergency services yesterday evening and this morning, due to the severe weather across Devon and Somerset.

Fire crews from Kingsbridge have been assisting the Coastguard at Beesands by making a tin hut safe and also assisting local residents who have been experiencing localised flooding due to the high tide.

Between 8pm last night and 2am this morning, the Kingsbridge fire station crew were mobilised to three separate incidents. Despite their travel times being increased due to the lower speeds on the snow covered roads, the snow chains and immediate turnout enabled the crew to get to each incident.

During the red alert weather period, like many other stations across Devon and Somerset, the crew at Kingsbridge were called into the station to be on standby.

The Ivybridge fire service assisted a local farmer after requests from a Dartmoor livestock officer for water for 300 cattle who had had no water for two days.

This morning, Dartmouth fire station said the crew had been at the station all of last night and would continue to be on standby today as the bad weather continues.

The 4x4 from Dartmouth helped with efforts in the bay as well as covering the local area. This morning the 4x4 was then re-tasked to Torbay while the main pump remains in the town ready to respond.

The fire station said: “Please stay safe and only travel if in an emergency, as the weather warning is still in place for snow and also ice.”

However, while responding last night to an incident at Fairview, one of the crew’s snow chains appears to have broken off the pump. If seen, please contact the fire station on Facebook.