FIRE crews were sent to Giblands Park in Okehampton on Sunday evening after receiving reports of smoke issuing from a manhole cover.

Crews from Okehampton and North Tawton found the manhole cover that had lifted due to a possible explosion just before 11pm. They evacuated the area and laid out a safety jet.

The crews found there was a small fire inside a South West Water manhole involving a Western Power low voltage mains cable, which was out on arrival.

The area was made safe and the incident was left in the hands of Western Power Distribution. The police were also in attendance.