Fire crews battle to save 400-year-old pub

People are being asked to avoid the area

Fire crews have been battling to save a historic pub in Cheshire.

A blaze engulfed The Smoker, a 400-year-old thatched pub on Chester Road, in Plumley village, Knutsford, earlier.

Six fire engines were at the scene this evening, and the pub was evacuated.

The area was said to have been thick with smoke and police closed both sides of the road.

Eyewitness Shaun Gee told the BBC: "As we approached the traffic lights it was clear to see smoke, however it wasn’t clear which building it was.

"The lights turned to red and at that point the flames just broke the roof."

Cheshire Fire & Rescue Service said they expect crews to be at the blaze into the night and tomorrow

Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service said crews were called to the area at about 17:30 BST and were making "good progress" but expected to be at the scene throughout the night.

Crews had created a fire break to help stop the blaze from spreading, a spokesman said.

Cheshire Fire and Rescue said the area was thick with smoke

The Smoker underwent a £750,000 refurbishment in 2018.

It first opened its doors in 1597, the year when William Shakespeare’s The Tempest was first performed.

The thatched coaching inn is the only pub in Britain called The Smoker.