A farmer has told of his devastation as he watched ‘everything he has worked for' go up in flames.

A huge fire broke out at a farm in Pymore, destroying two barns containing vintage cars, bikes and farm machinery.

Owner Paul Crabb, who lives and works on the farm with his family, was woken in the early hours of the morning by a neighbour who told them the barn was alight.

“It just got bigger and bigger,” said Mr Crabb. “It was really quick. It was devastating to watch everything I’ve worked go up in front of me. I’m gutted.”

Around 75 firefighters from both Dorset & Wiltshire and Devon & Somerset Fire and Rescue Service rushed to the farm at 4am on Thursday morning.

They were met with a large fire in one barn which has spread to another full of vehicles, agricultural machinery, gas cylinders and diesel tanks.

They stopped the fire spreading to Mr Crabb's home, close to the barn.

“In that sense, we were quite lucky,” said Mr Crabb. “The firefighters stopped it spreading to where we live.”

The fire took several hours to put out, with Mr Crabb himself assisting firefighters by using his own tractor and water bowser to supply some much-needed water from a nearby lake.

Firefighters were on site most of the day, continuing to dampen down the area until late that afternoon.

One barn collapsed and its contents, including a selection of classic cars, were destroyed.

“That was what I was hoping to retire with,” said Mr Crabb. “We don’t know what caused the fire or how this happened. It’s upsetting to see. I can’t believe it really.”

People took to social media, claiming to have seen the fire from as far as West Bay and reporting loud bangs several miles away.

The fire service advised residents to keep doors and windows closed throughout the day due to smoke in the area.

An investigation is underway to establish the cause of the fire.