Published: July 23, 2012
In photos: Fire drama near Burnham as tractor bursts into flames

Thousands of pounds of damage was caused to a tractor during a dramatic farmyard blaze near Burnham-On-Sea on Saturday afternoon (July 21st).

A fuel leak caused the tractor to burst into flames, sending flames and thick black smoke into the air at a farm in the village of Mark.

Local residents along Kingsway Road joined the farmer in throwing buckets of water over the machine to try and put out the blaze.

A fire crew from Burnham was sent to the scene and a hose reel jet was used to bring the blaze fully under control.

Farmer Tony Buncombe told Burnham-On-Sea.com: "It was quite a shock to be told by our neighbours that the tractor - a 1967 Massey Ferguson - was on fire. We are very grateful to them or it could have been even more serious."

A fire spokesman told Burnham-On-Sea.com the tractor had been 70% damaged by fire and heat, and that no-one had been hurt.

"There had been attempts made by the persons present to extinguish the fire using buckets of water before the arrival of the fire service," added the spokesman.

A local resident, Ross Johnstone, captured the fire on his mobile phone, as pictured above.

Pictured: The blazing tractor in the village of Mark on Saturday