Inside the cordon

The Exeter Daily was granted access inside the cordon that surrounded Cathedral Green as the Royal Clarence fire raged.

And as our dramatic pictures show, the scene resembled something from a film set.

Dozens of emergency workers and vehicles were positioned inside the exclusion zone.

And the activity was frenetic as crews battled to bring the blaze under control.

Firefighters, police and paramedics were all positioned inside the cordon, many of whom had been on duty throughout the day and into the evening.

Reflecting the seriousness of the incident Devon’s Chief Fire Office, Lee Howell, and Devon and Cornwall Police Chief Constable Shaun Sawyer were in attendance to support their teams.

They were joined by a number of media crews who watched the dramatic events unfold at close hand.