Blaze rips through Nuneaton pub...

[dutchman]

Firefighters are battling a major blaze at a pub in Nuneaton.



Officers are currently fighting flames that seem to have engulfed the Green Bear pub in Church Road, Stockingford.

The roof of the pub and its top floor appears to have been completely wiped out, as does the roof of a neighbouring residential property.

Images have been sent to the News via its page on social media site, Facebook, showing the blaze.

The News understands that four engines are at the scene, including the hydraulic platform from nearby Coventry.

Nuneaton fire crews were already out at another blaze when the call about the fire at the large pub came in at 8.45pm, so engines from Atherstone and Bedworth are at the scene,

Unconfirmed reports suggest that no-one has been seriously injured in the blaze but the pub, which is popular among families and the wider Stockingford community, would have been open at the time of the blaze.

[dutchman]

Green Bear manager tells of lucky escape after blaze ripped through pub



The manager of a blaze-engulfed pub in Nuneaton has spoken of his lucky escape.

Malcolm Wilks was asleep in his flat above the Green Bear when the fire alarm was raised at 8.30pm last night.

He said: "I was woken by one of the bar staff knocking at my door.

"I then dashed downstairs and had just got outside when the place exploded behind me.

"A couple of minutes later and I would have been caught in the blast.”

A handful of customers also managed to be safely evacuated as flames ripped through the pub in Church Road, Stockingford.

“We had been quite busy during the day but it had gone quieter so I went to have a bit of a break and a lie down,” said Mr Wilks, 50.

“I cannot believe how quickly the place went up. It’s a crying shame because the pub is very popular in the community and we were supposed to be hosting a couple of anniversary parties here today.”

It is believed that the fire started in another of the pub’s three first-floor flats, which was unoccupied at the time.

Fire crews from Nuneaton, Bedworth, Atherstone and Leamington were on the scene, while a hydraulic platform from Coventry was also used to bring the fierce blaze under control.

Extensive damage was caused, with the whole of the top half of the building gutted and the downstairs bar and lounge ruined by smoke and water.

The pub, which stands on the junction with Webb Street, used to known as Church Road Working Men’s Club. It is owned by a local man, who is currently on holiday in Tenerife.

One of his sons, who did not want to be named, said: “It’s terrible and we are all shocked by what has happened.

"I have been in touch with my dad and he is making arrangements to come home as soon as possible.”

Fire and police officers were today inside the burned out building to investigate the possible cause of the fire.

A spokesman for Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service said: “It is too early at this stage to speculate on the cause, but we do not suspect arson at this stage.”