Delays due to reports of youngsters setting fires could have had a devastating impact on a property fire crews from Bridport were called to just half an hour later.

Just before 5.45pm yesterday (Sunday) the team was called to a small fire near Plottingham Playing Fields. The fire was out on arrival.

A spokesman for Bridport Fire Station said: "Not only was this dangerous but also had the potential to delay us to a far more serious fire in Burton Bradstock."

Just after 6.15pm, two crews were called to a house fire in Burton Bradstock where they found a "well-established" fire in a shed connected to a house.

Crews got to work with two hose reel jets and small tools to extinguish the fire.

The spokesman added: "A power cable to the adjoining property was damaged along with a cable from a phone line which came down on to overhead power cables and also blocking a road.

"Luckily there were no injuries and the fire didn't spread to the adjoining property.

"Had we been delayed due to the previously mentioned call out, things may have been a little different.

"The cables were made safe and both electricity and phone companies were contacted who will be assessing the damage. There were reports of phones and internet outages in Burton Bradstock due to the damaged cable.

"The fire started accidentally after hot ashes were left in a container within the shed.

"We would like to remind people to ensure fires and hot ashes are fully extinguished and cooled before storing burn barrels and barbecues."