A number of tortoises have died after being caught in an outbuilding fire near Dereham.

Norfolk Fire and Rescue services were called to Gorgate Road in Hoe, near Dereham, at around 7.30am today.

Although no one was injured in the blaze at the residential property, the fire took hold of outbuildings containing aviaries and a tortoise house.

A spokesman for the fire services said: 'No humans were injured but sadly a number of tortoises did die.

'The birds which were in the aviary were removed and so we don't believe any were injured.'

The spokesman continued: 'It's fairly low level, we were worried about some toxins as there was some plastic sheeting thought to be in the area, but that didn't turn out to be an issue.'

Fire engines from Dereham, Earlham, Fakenham and Watton attended the scene and firefighters used hose reels and wore breathing apparatus to extinguish the fire.

All four crews remained there until 9.17am.

It is not yet known how the fire started.