Firefighters battled for nearly two hours to prevent a fire in a pub’s cellar from catching to the rest of the building.

Six firefighters wearing breathing apparatus and using two hose reel jets fought the blaze at The Churchill, on Swindon Road in Royal Wootton Bassett, which started in a bin store in the cellar.

Pubgoers on Thursday evening were oblivious to the danger as the flames spread, with one passing motorist stopping to tell staff to evacuate.

Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard: Three fire crews attended the scene from Bassett, Westlea and Stratton, supported by the aerial ladder platform from Swindon.Three fire crews attended the scene from Bassett, Westlea and Stratton, supported by the aerial ladder platform from Swindon. (Image: Westlea Fire Station)

Joanne Triggs was driving back to Swindon from her son’s football training when she noticed part of the roof was on fire.

“Initially it looked like the fire was in the roof but I think it was at the front spreading upwards,” the Grange Park resident said.

“I could see people were still in the bar which looked odd so [I] drove around the roundabout and back to the pub,” said Joanne.

“I ran in and told the man behind the bar the roof was on fire they needed to get out and also told a couple of men sat at a table near the window.

Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard: Fire crews were called to the pub blaze at 8.10pm on Thursday night.Fire crews were called to the pub blaze at 8.10pm on Thursday night. (Image: Westlea Fire Station)

“At that point a lady came out of the kitchen and set the fire alarm off.”

Crews from Westlea, Stratton and Royal Wootton Bassett quickly reacted.

A spokesperson from Westlea Fire Station said: “Group two backed up Royal Wootton Bassett Fire Station at a fire involving a pub cellar.

“Quick action from the first arriving crew prevented a more serious incident.”

Firefighters were called to the building at 8.10pm, and with the help of an aerial ladder platform, had the blaze extinguished by 9.56pm.