AN ambulance and a string in vehicles were engulfed in flames in Mere last night.

Firefighters from Mere and Gillingham were called to a burning ambulance in Homefield at about 9.30pm and found the vehicle "well alight" and leaking fuel.

A spokesman for Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service said: "Crews arrived at the address to find an ambulance well alight and a quantity of fuel leaking onto the road.

"The fuel leak had also spread the fire to four other vehicles near the ambulance."

An evacuation was carried out because of the oxygen cylinders in the ambulance. This was until the cylinders had cooled and were no longer a danger.

Fire crews remained on scene until 1.33am to continue cooling the cylinders.

The Environment Agency was also informed due to the fuel spill.

The fire service spokesman said "no cause is known at this time" and it is "not believed to be suspicious".

No casualties were reported. 

A spokesman for South Western Ambulance Trust said: "South Western Ambulance Service is carrying out a full investigation into the fire that destroyed an ambulance in Mere last night.

"The fire occurred whilst the crew were attending to a patient in their home nearby.

"No patients, members of the public or our crew were harmed during this incident."