Hengrave: Crews tackle five-home fire in thatched property

Fifteen crews from across Suffolk were sent to the scene in Hengrave, just north of Bury St Edmunds

About 70 firefighters were sent to tackle a large fire involving five houses in a thatched building.

Suffolk Police were also called to Bury Road, Hengrave at about 00:20 GMT to a report of a number of houses on fire.

The A1101 Bury Road was closed in both directions at Mill Road near to Hengrave Hall.

Police said the fire was not being treated as arson and it was a suspected chimney fire. There were no reported injuries.

Residents, however, were evacuated from connected properties as a precaution, the emergency services said.

Firefighters have been working through the night at the thatched property

Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service said 15 crews were sent to the scene from all over the county.

The BBC understands part of the thatched roof collapsed into the first floor of the building which is split into five separate properties.

Last year, crews had to tackle a similar fire in the village near Bury St Edmunds - at a thatched property that was divided into four homes.

The thatched building at the junction of the A1101 and Mill Road, pictured last year

The five affected properties are in a thatched building