Three men have been arrested on suspicion
of arson following an early-morning flat fire above a pub.

North Wales Police confirmed the arrests were made following the blaze above The Corner Pin pub on High Street, Saltney, which they attended just before 6.20am yesterday.

Emergency services, including two fire crews from Chester and Deeside, were called to the scene.

Thick smoke was seen billowing from the upstairs windows of the pub, with fire crews on site for three hours.

Fire investigators remained at the property yesterday alongside police officers after the blaze was extinguished.

No injuries were reported as a result of the fire.

Ranjan Israel was opening his Londis store across the road from The Corner Pin as the blaze unfolded.

He said: “We opened at 6am and as I came to open the store I noticed smoke coming from the front window of the flat above
the pub.

“The fire brigade turned up not long after and people were running out in shorts with no tops on.”

When approached by the Leader, the owner of the pub said he was not aware of what happened and was not in the venue at the time.

The Welsh Ambulance Service confirmed it sent a paramedic in a rapid response vehicle to the scene as a precaution, but was stood down as everyone had left the property.

Traffic was affected by the fire, with the A5104 High Street closed in both directions until about 8.50am.

Bus operator Stagecoach said it was not able to provide its number 16 service near to the pub, asking passengers to make their way to Victoria Road.

A normal service resumed at 9.30am.