A ROW of historic thatched cottages in Farndon have been left devastated after a serious fire (see video below).
The blaze, at the Grade II listed Black and White Cottages, High Street, was reported to Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service at 8pm on Thursday (September 8).
A spokesman for the service said: "Four fire engines were sent to the scene and on arrival the first crew requested an aerial appliance and a further four fire engines as the fire had spread to three thatched cottages.
"All residents were able to get out of their homes safely.
"Cheshire had appliances from Malpas, Chester, Ellesmere Port and Tarporley on the scene while North Wales Fire and Rescue Service have two engines and an aerial appliance from Wrexham and a further engine from Deeside.
"Firefighters used five hose reel jets to tackle the blaze and stop it from spreading further.
"The fire started in the middle cottage out of a row of three and spread to those on each side. Two firefighters wearing breathing apparatus went into the cottages on each end of the row to tackle the fire.
"After getting the fire under control, crews withdrew from inside the cottages and firefighters in the aerial appliances sprayed water on the roofs and began to pull away the thatched roof."
Firefighters have remained at the scene overnight, damping down and removing thatch and Farndon High Street has been cordoned off.
Reports of arrests in relation to the incident via micro- blogging site Twitter are so far unconfirmed and the cause of the blaze is still under investigation.
Video by reader Angie Ellis
