A FIVE-BEDROOM home in a North York Moors village was partially destroyed by fire today.

Fire crews were called to the detached family home in North End, Osmotherley, near Northallerton, shortly after 10.30am.

The fire had started in the loft conversion of the property and took hold of the entire roof.

Four fire crews were called to the scene, and used breathing equipment and an aerial platform from Cleveland Fire Brigade to tackle the blaze.

Painter and decorator Jamie Bull was working in the property next door when the fire broke out.

He said: "It was horrendous. We were stood behind a garden wall just watching the firemen and we could feel the heat from there.

"It took a good 20 to 30 minutes before they had the flames under control."

Fire investigators are due to revisit the house tomorrow, but the cause is believed to be an electrical fault in the loft.

A spokesman for North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue said tonight that the loft conversion suffered 80 per cent fire damage, while the rest of the house was damaged by smoke and water.