15029/1MORE than 50 firefighters battled for three hours to prevent a blaze destroying the roof of a thatched cottage in Figheldean on Sunday.

The combined efforts of civilian and RAF firefighters resulted in half of the thatched roof being saved.

Wiltshire Fire Brigade received a 999 call shortly before 11pm on Sunday to say there was a fire in the roof of the cottage in Church Lane.

On arrival the officer in charge of the first appliance saw that reinforcements were needed and asked for a further five pumps to be deployed.

Firefighters from Amesbury, Pewsey, Ludgershall, Salisbury, Wilton and Chippenham attended together with one fire appliance from RAF Netheravon.

Sixteen fire fighters wore breathing apparatus so that they could enter the building and remove furniture and possessions.

Using a technique developed by Wiltshire Fire Brigade, the firefighters cut a number of breaks in the thatch to contain the blaze.

Brigade spokesman Phil Jones said: "Fire breaks were successfully cut in the roof restricting the damage to approximately 50 per cent of the roof.

"Firefighters were able to remove all the undamaged furniture and personal effects of the occupiers to a safe storage area before making the property safe and weatherproof."

Investigations by the fire brigade indicated that the fire started in a chimney.