DORSET firefighters helped colleagues fight a factory fire at Axminster Carpets today which led to three people being taken to hospital.

Five crews of firefighters, including teams from Charmouth and Lyme Regis, were needed to fight the blaze, which started in machinery used to make carpet underlay at the Devon factory. The fire was confined to machinery.

Three people who suffered burns needed hospital treatment, said Devon Fire and Rescue Service. They were taken to hospital by on-site personnel.

A brigade spokesman said: “The fire was involving the underlay plant on the ground floor of the factory.

“Crews ventilated the property using a positive pressure ventilation fan.

“The fire was accidental, originating in the machine that makes carpet underlay, and was confined to the machinery.”