Fire at disused pub forces closure of A5
THE A5 was expected to be closed into yesterday evening after a derelict pub was severely damaged by a fire.
Fire crews were called to the former Bull Inn pub, on the A5 at Witherley, at 9.52am yesterday.
The pub was well alight when they arrived and a number of additional crews were called in from Leicestershire and Warwickshire.
Police closed the A5 to traffic while firefighters worked to put out the blaze and the road remained closed between Harpers Lane and Drayton Lane.
By 5.30pm it was reported that it could soon be reopening.
A spokesman for the nearby The Old House B&B said: “There have been a lot of emergency services here – at least three fire engines, an air ambulance, the police, as well as what must have been 50 firefighters and officers.
“It started off as just smoke but then flames started coming out of the building.
“It’s smouldering now. The pub is seriously damaged now. The roof is all but caved in. I doubt anyone would be able to fix that.”
Firefighters worked to find out whether the building was safe following the fire before an investigation into the cause began.
A police spokesman said: “We were called to the A5 in Hinckley just before 10.30am by Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service who were dealing with a fire at a derelict building.
“The ambulance service were also called. There are no reported injuries.”
Firefighters said conditions inside the building meant the blaze had to be tackled from the outside.
A spokesman said: “Appliances are attending from Atherstone and Nuneaton in Warwickshire, with one appliance from Hinckley, one from Western station, the aerial ladder platform from Central station, a water bowser from Warwickshire, and a command support vehicle from Shepshed.”
The Air Ambulance service confirmed they were called to the incident but were stood down upon arrival at the scene.