City pub severely damaged in fire

The fire covered two floors and the basement, said Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service

A Nottingham pub has been severely damaged in a fire.

Firefighters were called to The Bakersfield - known locally as the Tally Ho - in Oakdale Road at 21:03 BST on Wednesday.

The vacant building has been earmarked for demolition, with Nottingham City Council's planning committee due to decide whether homes can be built there on 18 September.

The fire service said no-one was rescued or injured, and an investigation will start later.

Residents in the area who could smell or see smoke were asked by the fire service to keep doors and windows closed

The fire covered two floors and the basement of the property, according to the fire service.

A spokeswoman said nine appliances were sent to the scene in total, including an aerial ladder platform.

At the fire's height, six appliances were there at once.

Shortly before 00:00, some appliances were stood down, but crews remained at the scene to tackle hot spots.

Debbie Coffey-Bainbridge, who lives nearby, said she started hearing sirens at about 21:00.

"We could see the roof was totally ablaze. It was quite shocking - it was clearly a very big fire.

"We have memories in that pub - my husband used to work there 15 years ago or so. We had the wake there for his grandma and grandad.

"Since it became The Bakersfield, we have had a wedding party for a friend."

'Massive bang'

The mother-of-two said: "I saw the crane going up and the water being poured into the top - it was making so much smoke.

"I got chatting on the playground to one of our kids' friend's dad. He was saying he jogged past at about 20:30 or 20:40, and heard a massive bang and some girls screaming inside so I did let the police know."

Plans on the council's website show Hockley Developments Ltd are seeking permission to build 13 houses and eight one-bed apartments on the land.

They would be a mixture of semi-detached and detached houses, the application states.

Officers had recommended that planning permission should be granted.