FIREFIGHTERS used a unique bit of kit to help clean up after defeating a fire in the roof of a centuries-old thatched cottage.

The fire brigade was called to the property in Standlake High Street at 10.20pm last night to find that the fire had already spread to a large, load bearing wooden beam that stretched the complete width of the eight foot chimney breast. 

The beam was supporting the weight of all the stone work above, so a specialist rescue vehicle from Kidlington was sent to the scene to help remove the burning beam.

Incident commander, Graham Turner, said: “Although we were conscious of being sympathetic to a building that was centuries old, the fire had penetrated the wooden beam from within the chimney breast.

"This left us no alternative but to carefully remove a portion of it to ensure that the fire was fully extinguished, but this needed to be done without affecting the stability of the building.

"Approximately half of the beam was burnt so we removed it using an electric chainsaw and other equipment from our Specialist Rescue Vehicle and then supported the stone work with acrow props and wooden blocks that we also carry.

"The acrow props will need to be left in place until the occupier is able to make arrangements to have the beam fully replaced.

"The crews then finished off by tidying up using another piece of specialist equipment, but this time borrowed from the occupier, which allegedly some of them had never seen before – a Henry Hoover.”

Fire crews from Witney and Bampton attended the scene.