Large boat deliberately set on fire in River Thames

Teams from Wallingford Fire Station, Didcot Fire Station and specialist water crews all responded to the 999 call that a boat had burst into flames in the Thames near Benson.

Some of the firefighters had to get into a boat to launch it and then use their hoses to wash it down, while others stayed on the ground to secure it from drifting away. 

While the cause of the fire is still being investigated specialist officers say it was done on purpose. 

Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue wrote on Facebook: “We should all be staying at home during these difficult times but this fire puts an additional strain onto us at a busy period.”