FIREFIGHTERS are investigating after a blaze ripped through an empty Crewe pub.

The roof and first floor of The Ashbank in Pym's Lane were destroyed in the flames on Monday.

More than 30 firefighters from Crewe, Sandbach and Nantwich were at the scene and spent four hours tackling the flames.

It was considered so dangerous an aerial appliance was brought in from Macclesfield to tackle the flames from above and protect the ground crews.

Emergency services were alerted at 6.15pm. The cause has yet to be established, but arson has not been ruled out.

Gareth Roberts, Leading Firefighter at Crewe Fire Station, said: 'It was a huge fire that used a lot of resources and an investigation is on-going into the cause of the blaze.'

Developer Buildchoice had been given planning permission to flatten the pub and build 22 semi-detached and terraced houses on the site.