Village made famous by Doc Martin hit by horror blaze as flames rip through shop which featured and destroy car

A VILLAGE made famous by ITV drama Doc Martin was hit by a huge blaze last night.

A car caught fire and the flames sparked an inferno which engulfed a Co-op store in Port Isaac, Cornwall.

So far there are no reported injuries.

The shop featured in background scenes in several episodes of the long-running show - starring Martin Clunes as the grumpy doc - which ended in December.

Police ordered residents to stand back as a team of firefighters braved the intense heat and smoke.

One onlooker joked: "Where's PC Joe Penhale when you need him?"

They were referencing John Marquez's character in the medical comedy programme, which also starred Caroline Catz as Louisa Ellingham and Ian McNeice as Bert Large.

The vehicle was "completely destroyed" and the shop suffered severe damage, likely to cost tens of thousands of pounds.

The first 999 calls from several people were received around 9.30pm, cops said.

Witnesses reported that a car was alight, with subsequent messages saying the flames had spread to a shop.

Engines from Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service were sent from Delabole, with back-up by crews from Bodmin and Wadebridge.

The cause of the blaze is being investigated.

A spokesperson for the fire service said: "Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus used two high pressure hose reel jets to extinguish the premises and the vehicle.

"The vehicle was completely destroyed by fire and a proportion of the shop front was damaged by heat and fire."