FIREFIGHTERS were called out to tackle a large blaze at a disused pub in Cheshire that is now believed to have been started deliberately..

Shortly before 1.30am today (Tuesday, May 26) fire crews were called to reports of a fire at the former Croft pub in Halton Lodge Avenue, Runcorn.

On arrival crews found the two-storey building, measuring about 30 metres by 20 metres, well alight.

A water supply was set up, as was a safety cordon, and firefighters began fighting the fire from outside the building with three hose reel jets.

Four fire engines were initially in attendance, but that was soon increased to six.

The road was closed by the police and Scottish Power attended to isolate the electricity supply to the building.

By that time firefighting activity had been split into sectors.

Three main jets were used to fight the fire from outside while two firefighters wearing breathing apparatus removed exterior doors and covered windows.

All of the security screening on the building's windows was removed.

An aerial ladder platform ensured that firefighters could assess the extent of the fire from above.

They established that most of the fire was in the roof space.

Two firefighters wearing breathing apparatus on the aerial ladder platform removed tiles from the roof of the building.

A Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said: "With the fire starting to be under control, two fire engines left the scene.

"The aerial ladder platform enabled firefighters to tackle the fire from above, using a hose reel jet.

"It also enabled them to strip tiles off the roof on the single-storey half of the building involved in the fire. The fire did not spread to the second storey part of the building.

"With firefighters having fought the fire through the night and brought it under control, there is now just one fire engine in attendance.

"Firefighters are currently using a thermal imaging camera to look for hotspots. The road has been reopened by the police and Scottish Power has confirmed that the electricity supply to the building is isolated."

A structural engineer attended to assess the building.

Once firefighters were satisfied that the fire was fully out, having completed a thorough inspection of the building using a thermal imaging camera, they handed the incident over to the police and the structural engineer.

Firefighters were in attendance for about 11 hours.

An investigation into the cause of the fire remains ongoing.

At this stage, it is believed that the fire was probably started deliberately.

Anyone with any information or footage relating to the fire should call Cheshire Constabulary on 101, quoting IML 713988, give the details via https://www.cheshire.police.uk/ro/report or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.