A CHESTER pub was forced to close for the night after arsonists set fire to the toilets.

Crews were called to the Egerton Arms in Liverpool Road, Bache, at 8.06pm last night (Saturday, May 16) where they discovered a blaze in the male toilet cubicle.

With smoke pouring out into the bar area all customers had to be evacuated. Crews used a thermal image camera to locate the fire, which was doused using one hose reel.

Crew manager Mike Beechey said: "There was heavy smoke damage in the cubicle. The fire was contained to the toilet area although there was smoke in the bar area. The incident has now been left with Cheshire Police."