AN ARSONIST torched a pub cellar following weeks of altercations between drinkers and new landlords.

David Sullivan moved from a rough pub in the East End of London to sleepy Shocklach - to find the problems were even worse.

Things came to a head on Monday night, when the Bull Inn was set alight.

Mr Sullivan, who lives above the pub, was woken in the early hours by his dogs barking and howling.

'There was smoke everywhere downstairs but I couldn't see a fire,' he said. 'I opened the cellar door and it went whoosh up the stairs.'

Mr Sullivan quickly shut the door and alerted business partner Tony Schembri, who also lives above the pub.

They have endured weeks of trouble - including a verbal threat of arson two days before the incident.

'I've even had the wheel nuts taken off my car, which caused the tyre to fall off,' said Mr Sullivan. 'We knew they were nasty but we didn't think it would come to this.

'I worked in a rough area in East London but it was never as bad as it is here.'

The leaseholders only took over the pub in December after residents petitioned for it to be reopened.

'It's a such a shame for everyone in the village because the pub was empty for months before Admiral bought it at Christmas,' said Mr Sullivan, who is suffering from respiratory problems after inhaling the smoke.

Police in Cheshire have confirmed they are treating the fire as arson and have a specialist investigation unit on the case.

The extent of the damage is still not known but the pub will be closed until owner Admiral Taverns starts tackling the clear-up process.