Pair escape fire at farmhouse

Two men fled a burning Powys farmhouse after a blaze ripped through its roof.

More than 20 firefighters tackled the flames for more than nine hours after the fire broke out at the property at Glascwm, near Llanfyllin, shortly after 7pm yesterday.

A man and his son escaped the building unharmed and raised the alarm.

Crews from Welshpool, Llanfyllin, Llandrindod Wells and Builth Wells were called out and firefighters were still on scene at 4.45am today.

They were due to return to the scene later to re-inspect the area and investigate the cause of the fire.

Steve Rowlands, station manager from Newtown fire station, said when fire crews arrived a man and his adult son were outside the property unharmed.

Firefighters brought the blaze under control by 8pm.

Mr Rowlands said an ambulance was sent to the scene but no one needed medical treatment and Powys County Council closed the road until 1am to allow fire brigade vehicles to park on the road outside.

"It's a serious property fire in the roof space of the property," he said.

* A 100-metre safety cordon was set up by firefighters amid fears butane gas cylinders would explode during a fire at a workshop in Llansantffraid.

The blaze which broke out in the early hours of today, completely destroyed the interior of the workshop near the Three Chimneys in the village.

The fire, which took about an hour to get under control, is being treated as suspicious.