Forty firefighters tackled a blaze at a large thatched cottage near Northwich.

Crews were called to the two-storey property, named Cradles Cottage, in Budsworth Road, Arley, at 7.40pm last night (Thursday, April 10).

The number of appliances was increased from an initial five to eight because one wing of the house was well alight.

Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus were then withdrawn because of concerns that part of the roof might collapse.

They then tackled the blaze externally using ladders and hosereels. Crews managed to salvage property from the downstairs and contain the fire to just the one wing.

Water supplies were boosted by pumping from a nearby pond.

One crew remained at the scene this morning, damping down and checking for hotspots with a thermal imaging camera.