THE boss of an Ampfield hotel that was ravaged with flames has said rooms could be reopened as early as next week.

The Potters Heron hotel went up in a blaze on Monday evening, with 120 firefighters from Hampshire and neighbouring counties tearing the thatch apart in order to save the building.

The chairman of Pebble Hotels, which runs the Potters Heron, said the main hotel and function rooms were unaffected.

Starting in the chimney, the fire had torn through the iconic thatch roof as 25 fire engines raced to the scene, along with police and ambulance staff.

It closed the A3090 for hours.

Ted Kennedy, chairman of Pebble Hotels, said: “Due to the fantastic work of the fire brigade and the hotel team, there were no injuries and the damage was confined to the thatch roof.

“We are now working with our contractors to check all safety aspects. We expect this to be completed by the weekend. We will then fully re-open the bedrooms and function suites which were completely unaffected by the fire.”

The work and bravery of the firefighters on Monday night has been praised as ‘exemplary’ by Romsey MP Caroline Nokes.

Chairman of Ampfield Parish Council, Bryan Nanson, was outside the hotel on Monday evening, and said: “The work of the firefighters is fantastic, nothing short of incredible really. They have saved one of the gems for it to still be standing.

“It’s such a sad story. I asked the police if we could help in any way at the time, or open up our village hall for guests.”

Test Valley fire commander Dan Tasker said that thatch fires are “notoriously difficult”, and that the snow had helped to prevent the flames from spreading.

He said: “Thatch roofs are notoriously difficult to tackle. The problem is that it’s designed to keep water out.

“We’re not 100 per cent sure yet what caused the fire. At the moment we’re not treating the fire as suspicious. It looks as though it started around the chimney.”

The official cause of Monday’s fire remains under investigation.

Romsey MP Caroline Nokes, praised the bravery of the firefighters who went inside to tackle the fire.

She said: “It is such a shame to see the damage at one of our more unique and historic hotels. My thanks, of course, go to the outstanding firefighters, including the local team in Romsey, for what was another example of exemplary bravery.”

The hotel famously burned down in November 1966.