STAFF have been cleaning up at a village pub today after a chimney fire forced them to close early on Sunday.

The management were forced to shut the 17th century Crown Inn, at King's Somborne after smouldering debris in a chimney filled the bar with smoke and soot.

The alarm was raised at 8.45pm.

Firefighters from Stockbridge and Romsey prevented the fire spreading in the thatched building and and the pub's landlady Judith Evans praised the crews.

“Smoke was pouring into the bar," she said.

"Our customers alerted us and we quickly called the fire brigade. We were so lucky to have such marvellous firefighters to deal with it.

" Debris was smouldering in the chimney but it didn't catch fire. They used rods to bring it down. There was a lot of soot and dust and it filled the bar.

" It was coffees all round when the firefighters finished. It could have been far worse."

Judith said the pub was due to reopen this evening.