HATHERLEIGH Market should be able to 'carry on as normally as possible' despite the fire which destroyed part of the main sheep auction building on Monday.

The fire broke out at 3.38am and caused severe damage to a corner of the roof and the market offices.

Despite that damage, Greg Vick, of Vicks Auctioneers, confirmed that most of the market activities should go ahead as planned. The cattle sale today (Thursday)?will go ahead as normal.

Mr Vick said:?'We will have our cattle sale today (Thursday), then on Saturday our implements and machinery sale should also go ahead.

'The sheep sale on Monday should go ahead, and the poultry sale next week is definitely on too. The only real doubt at the moment is our furniture and sundries auction in the main shed.

'Despite the damage, we are planning to carry on as normally as possible.'

Hatherleigh mayor Cllr Graham Alford said he hoped the fire would not impact on the town in 'a big way' and hoped to see the market fully up and running again as soon as possible.

'Having spoken to the owners, they think that the fire should not affect the pannier market, with that mostly taking place outside and in another building,' said Cllr Alford.

'Myself and the town council have a lot of sympathy for the market owners, and we can only hope it does not affect their business too much. We will have to wait and see over the next few weeks on that.

'As a town, we would like to see all aspects of the market keep going, but for the people of the town, the pannier market is the most important aspect. As well as the business side, there is a real social side to it.'

The cause of the blaze is being investigated by both the fire service, and police. The market was cordoned off following fears of asbestos contamination as fire crews found asbestos during their battle to fight the fire.

A spokesman for West Devon Borough Council on Monday said: 'The council's environmental health team liaised with the fire service following the discovery of asbestos during the incident but did not need to visit the site.

'The council has been informed that the owner of the market has arranged for the asbestos to be cleared up and disposed of in line with regulations.'

The fire service received several calls reporting cattle sheds on fire at the market, and two appliances from Okehampton and one from Hatherleigh initially attended.

Upon arrival, the crews requested a further two fire appliances from North Tawton and Torrington as well as the incident command vehicle with a supporting fire appliance from Ilfracombe. Fire crews also requested the attendance of an aerial ladder platform from Barnstaple and Western Power.

Crews fought the fire for around two hours. By 4.08am, the buildings were well alight, consisting of both cattle market buildings and offices. Crews continued to make good progress, with an open water supply in operation by 4.24am.

Crews managed to contain the fire to one corner section of a building by 5am. At this point, Western Power were in attendance to disconnect the electricity supply to the building so crews could continue their progress into the building.

A block of single storey offices was severely damaged in the blaze.

The fire was eventually extinguished at 5.38am with the use of four breathing apparatus wearers, one main jet and two hose reel jets, taking water from the River Lew.