A SECOND fire in five months has destroyed a derelict pub near Wellington.

Four crews from Taunton, Wellington and Exeter were called out to battle the flames throughout Sunday night and Monday morning.

Firefighters were called to the Merry Harriers on Blackdown Hill Road in West Buckland at 10.14pm.

As well as bursting through the roof, the fire caused a partial collapse of the building.

Police treated the fire in July as arson after discovering the pub had been broken into shortly before the blaze. The cause of the latest fire is under investigation.

Firefighters used an aerial ladder to get above the flames which had broken through the roof late on Sunday night. Engineers from Western Power also attended.

Due to the intensity of the fire and the danger from falling tiles, police and firefighters set up a cordon around the scene.

The fire service confirmed ‘structural collapse has taken place’ and a structural engineer was also called out on Monday.

One engine and two water bowsers as well as an aerial ladder platform remained at the scene on Monday.

The fire service says the two-storey former pub has ‘100 per cent internal damage’ and the roof has been destroyed.

The building has been deemed unsafe by the fire service and police are investigating the cause.