AN INVESTIGATION has been launched by the police and fire service after a caravan was destroyed in a blaze on the outskirts of Weymouth.

Firecrews were called to a fire in a caravan in the Coombe Valley Road area, north of Sutton Poyntz today.

A section of Coombe Valley Road was closed off while crews work at the scene. Police were also at the scene.

It was initially thought there were cylinders in the area and there was a risk of them igniting but it was been declared safe.

An onlooker said: “I could see smoke from a fire coming across the fields. It smelt like burning plastic.”

Speaking at the scene, Watch Manager David Allan said: “We have had a caravan fire.

“Two crews and approximately ten fire fighters from Weymouth attended. We are now investigating the cause.”

A spokesman for Dorset Police said: “We received the call to the caravan fire at 11.38am. We closed the road at Rosewood Drive and Coombe Valley Road.

“An investigation is underway.”

A spokesman for Dorset Fire and Rescue Service said: "Just after 11.30am the service was alerted to a caravan on fire on Coombe Valley Road in Weymouth, near the junction with Plaisters Lane.

“Wholetime and on-call firefighters from Weymouth attended and extinguished the fire and it was under control by 12.20pm. “The caravan was destroyed in the blaze and there was also fire damage to a small part of a nearby barn. The cause of the fire is under investigation.”