A MAN has been arrested after a car smashed into a house, caught fire, and ruptured a gas pipe in an early-morning crash.

Emergency services rushed to the incident at the junction of Crowshute Lane and High Street in Chard shortly after 4am.

The car, which ploughed into the side of the house on Crowshute Lane, caught fire following the crash, and also ruptured a gas main.

Nobody was injured in the incident.

A 27-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of drink driving following the incident, and was released on police bail.

It was initially reported that the fire from the car had spread to the house, but firefighters managed to confine the fire to the vehicle.

It is not yet known how much damage was caused in the crash.

A spokesman from Avon and Somerset Police said: “We were called to the incident at 4.10am on Sunday morning, after a car was in collision with the side of a house, causing a gas main to rupture. A 27-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of drink driving, and he was released on police bail.”

A gas engineer from Western Power Distribution attended the house to inspect the ruptured pipe, and a structural engineer also attended the incident to check the house.

A Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said: “While the appliance was en route, further information was received stating the car was also on fire and possibly involved the property.

“A second appliance was sent from Chard. On arrival, the first crew confirmed the vehicle well alight, and got to work with one hose reel jet and two breathing apparatus wearers.

“Crews confirmed the building was not involving in the fire at this time.”

After putting out the fire, an inspection of the property found a gas main had ruptured, he said, with a cordon and safety jet set up to protect residents.

A gas monitor was sent from Yeovil, the spokesman said, to monitor the scene before the gas provider arrived.

“Crews used a fogging jet to disperse gas at the incident, and attempted to isolate the supply,” he added.

“A building inspector was requested to survey the structure of the property.”

The gas provider was at the scene at around 7am, he said, with crews also awaiting the arrival of a structural engineer.

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