FIREFIGHTERS had to smash their way through a pub roof to deal with a blaze.

Huge clouds of smoke billowed out of the Old Wirral Hundred in Great Sutton as up to 30 officers tackled the blaze on Monday afternoon.

Five engines and an aerial platform went to the Capen-hurst Lane pub around noon.

The pub had just opened for the day and was virtually empty apart from a handful of staff who managed to get out safely.

Firefighters said a small blaze had occurred on the cooker range in the kitchen, which was promptly dealt with by staff.

But sparks from it had got into the air ducts leading from the kitchen to other parts of the pub, spreading to the roof void where they smouldered.

Crews went up in the aerial platform and had to remove tiles and chop their way through some of the rafters to tackle the spreading smoke. They also used thermal imaging cameras to check for further hotspots.

Ellesmere Port fire station manager Kevin Fenney said: 'The smoke had got into the roof space so we had to ensure there were no embers or hotspots.

'The vast majority of the roof space has been damaged as a result and sections were taken away by us.'

Officers in breathing apparatus doused flames above the bar and elsewhere. This resulted in water damage to the bar and toilets.

Most of the fire crews, including two engines from Ellesmere Port, two from Chester and one from Frodsham, remained on site until 4.42pm.

The pub is presently closed to customers while the full extent of the damage is assessed. It is not known how long it will stay closed.