Fire crews damp down fire-damaged cottages in Crediton
Fire crews have been damping down the scene of a fire which severely damaged a row of historic thatched cottages in a Devon town.
Six properties have been damaged by the blaze in Crediton which started at about lunchtime on Thursday.
At its height, about 100 firefighters tackled the fire in Mill Street, a spokesman for Somerset Fire and Rescue Service said.
There have been no reports of any injuries.
Ashen Gill, who owns one of the damaged cottages, said: "We're all really shocked, you never expect it to happen.
"We've been led to believe by the fire crews that there won't be anything left."
Ms Gill, who has lived in the property for 16 years, said: "We're finding how lovely the human race is, everybody is being so helpful and supportive."
John Miller, from Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service, said earlier: "The fire spread in both directions across the thatched roofs.
"The crews have been working hard under difficult circumstances."
The fire took hold in an historic part of the town known locally as the traditional birthplace of St Boniface.
It affected a row of five thatched cottages before spreading to a sixth property.