'Pub fire made me tearful - it felt like the end of an era'

The Cricketers, in Calcutt, Knaresborough, suffered severe damage in a fire early on Tuesday

A fire that destroyed a popular local pub marked the "end of an era", according to upset people living nearby.

The Cricketers, in Calcutt, Knaresborough, went up in flames in the early hours of Tuesday, severely damaging the building.

Those living on streets neighbouring the site said the pub had become a hub for the community following a renovation in recent years.

North Yorkshire Police said the fire had been started deliberately and arrested a woman on suspicion of arson.

'Hope they rebuild'

Margaret Ballance, who lives near the pub, says it was a "community hub"

Margaret Ballance awoke to the sound of fire engines passing by her home close to the pub on Tuesday as crews rushed to tackle the blaze.

"I looked out and thought there were fireworks down at the pub and then realised there wasn't," she says.

"I got my coat on and went out and saw the whole roof alight. There were 20ft (6m) flames and two firemen up a ladder trying to douse them but it had really taken hold."

Margaret says she was relieved to see there were no ambulances at the scene, as she thought a family was living there. Police confirmed no-one was injured.

"I was a bit tearful because it felt like the end of an era at the pub," Ms Ballance explains.

"The façade looks okay but at the back, it's completely gone. I was really quite shocked because it's like a community hub."

Now a mother to grown-up children, she fondly remembered taking them to gala days at the pub when they were small.

"The 100-year-old lady up the road would always go across in her wheelchair with some help," she adds.

"I hope they rebuild it."

'Real big shame'

Emma Bolland says the fire is "devastating" for the area

Emma Bolland, from the Aspin Estate in Knaresborough, plays for a women's cricket team which has a ground behind the Cricketers.

"We quite often spend a lot of time there in the spring and summer," she smiles.

"It's just a real big shame to the community and the area.

"It's devastating because it's a lovely pub with a lovely atmosphere."

Emma says the boozer was a popular pub quiz destination and its beer garden was the perfect spot for a cooling drink after a waterside walk along the nearby River Nidd.

'A lot of shock'

Police are investigating the incident as arson and have made one arrest

Based down the street on Briggate in Knaresborough, Charlotte Evans drove past the fire on Tuesday at about 09:00 BST.

"Everything had calmed down but we came back at lunchtime and the fire had actually restarted.

"They had to shut the road off again and I think the fire engines had to come back out."

Ms Evans says she had been to the pub before and believed it had been taken over in the past few years.

"They had redone the outside area, so it's a shame it's had to shut down now.

"There has been a lot of shock, I guess everyone is just wondering what happened."

North Yorkshire Police has asked witnesses and those with information to come forward.

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