FIREFIGHTERS from Wellington were mobilised on Thursday afternoon (March 19) when a tractor caught fire in a field of elephant grass.

The blaze caused ‘significant damage’ to the tractor and also destroyed an acre of miscanthus elephant grass.

The incident happened in the Bishops Lydeard area shortly before 12.30 pm and saw police in attendance for traffic management in the area.

Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue (DSFR) received two 999 calls to alert it, with the second call confirming the flames had spread to the crop.

Fire control also sent appliances from Taunton, Bridgwater, and Street to tackle the blaze.

A DSFR spokesperson said: “The cause was believed to be accidental.”

Elephant grass is mostly grown as a sustainable, low-carbon bioenergy crop for renewable electricity generation.