YELVERTON'S fire engine has been withdrawn from service after a similar appliance overturned during stability tests last week.

Yelverton firefighter John German was one of the crew on board the machine at the time. He and the rest of the test crew were said to be 'shaken', but not seriously injured.

The trials, undertaken at the Chobham test site in Surrey last Thursday, were arranged by the Devon Fire and Rescue Service with the manufacturer, Dennis Specialist Vehicles, following a second recent accident involving a Dennis DS fire appliance, a spokesman said.

'Devon Fire and Rescue Service are carrying out, in liaison with Dennis, a thorough investigation into the cause of the incident and has requested the assistance of Devon and Cornwall Police vehicle accident inspectors,' he said.

Deputy chief fire officer Chris Horton added: 'All 12 Dennis DS fire appliances within Devon will be either replaced by reserve appliances or have restrictions placed upon them until this matter has been fully investigated.'