THE tiny Exmoor village of Parracombe suffered two devastating blows within 48 hours after a woman was shot dead and the village school was all but destroyed by fire.

Local woman Jennie Leeman-Hawley, who was in her early 40s, was found dead within the grounds of her family home at Higher Cowley Farm on Sunday afternoon.

Her husband, David Leeman, 59, appeared before North Devon Magistrates' Court on Wednesday charged with her murder.

He was remanded in custody ahead of a bail hearing at Exeter Crown Court today (Friday).

He, his wife and their four children had lived on the farm for more than ten years.

Police were called by neighbours and confirmed they had found a woman's body in the grounds that had "sustained apparent gunshot wounds".

Just over 24 hours after the tragedy of Mrs Leeman-Hawley's death, the community woke on Tuesday morning to discover 30 firefighters tackling a blaze that destroyed three-quarters of Parracombe Primary School.

The fire started at 6.45am and crews from Lynton, Combe Martin, Barnstaple and Ilfracombe were called to the scene.

A Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said the cause of the fire was believed to have been accidental.

Head teacher Jayne Peacock described the blaze as "horrendous" and said a classroom, staff room and kitchen area had been badly damaged.