AN ARSON attack sparked a massive fire at a derelict mansion house in Bishops Lydeard.

At its height, more than 50 firefighters tackled the blaze at the historic Grade II listed Sandhill Park in Bishops Lydeard.

No-one was injured in the fire, which broke out at 3am, but firefighters spent more than 12 hours at the scene and had to fetch water from ponds almost a mile away.

Four men aged between 19 and 23 were later jailed for between 12 months and 27 months when they pleaded guilty to arson at Taunton Crown Court.

The iconic building was a popular venue in Bishops Lydeard, and was a former hospital and fire engine museum before the fire, and was owned by an estate management company at the time of the blaze.

Speaking at the time, councillor Mike Rigby said: "People in the village are very upset that a big part of our history has been damaged.

“The external parts of the building are largely intact, so I hope this focuses minds on finding some use for it.”