Family devastated by huge Shropshire pub blaze
[gallery] A couple today revealed their agony after fire ripped through their Shropshire pub, leaving them with just the clothes they were wearing.
Richard and Eve Harvey were sleeping when
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Their electricity cut off, disabling the fire alarms. The faint sound of beeping as the tills re-booted when the back-up system kicked in woke up Mrs Harvey, who was able to raise the alarm just in time.
Mrs Harvey, 45, her husband Richard, 42, their son Elliott, 14, and seven guests who were staying the night and their dog managed to escape unharmed.
They all watched helplessly as the pub, parts of which were 300 years old, went up in flames.
The fire started in the laundry room at about 2.30am yesterday morning.
About 50 firefighters worked to bring the blaze under control – but within an hour the building was completely gutted.
Devastated Mr Harvey, who was also head chef at the Enterprise Inns pub, today spoke about the drama of their fire – and the family's devastation at the damage caused.
He described how he initially attempted to fight the blaze before realising the extent of the flames and then turning his attention to making sure everyone in the building were able to escape and were all accounted for.
He said today said: "Eve heard the tills beeping so she thought we had had a power cut.
"Eve got up and noticed there was a glow outside. She looked out to one of the side rooms and realised there was a fire.
"She woke me up. I went down the stairs and through the kitchen and picked up two fire extinguishers.
"There was a light haze of smoke. I could hear this phenomenal crackling from the loft.
"I put the fire extinguishers down and just said 'get out'."
Mr Harvey ran around and banged on the guest rooms.
As the pub phone was not working without electricity, he ran across the road and asked a neighbour to call 999.
Two fire engines were quickly at the scene – but firefighters could do nothing to save the building. Firefighters were also hampered by a lack of water pressure in the area.
Mr Harvey said: "They unloaded their water but it didn't even touch the fire. We just had to sit and watch it burn for an hour.
"We are absolutely gutted. It's been a tough year but the last three months we've made a nice profit.
"Everything was looking promising for the future of the pub.
"We've lost everything. I came out in tracksuit bottoms and trainers, I didn't even have a pair of socks.
"That is all I have. We have built this pub up over five years and we've lost it all in a night.
"The pub is 300 years old. All of that history has gone in a night.
"But the main thing is we all got out uninjured. We didn't even have smoke inhalation."
The popular couple have been helped by family and neighbours, who have come to their aid with clothes and to give them a roof over their head.
Mr Harvey said: "The neighbours have been fantastic. They have offered us food and one of the neighbours has said we can stay there."
The family has also been supported by the British Red Cross.
They have vowed to rebuild the pub once the insurance money has been received.
Andy Blizard, the incident commander for Shropshire Fire & Rescue Service, said 10 appliances attended.
Investigations were continuing to discover how the fire started.
He said: "The building suffered 90 per cent damage. At the height of the fire there were high flames and a lot of smoke.
"We pumped water from the River Tern as that was the best water supply in the area.
"All residents were able to self-evacuate safely."
The pub has long been popular with families and has been given five-star reviews for its food since the Harveys have been in charge.
In the past it has offered pensioners' lunches and has nine rooms for accommodation.
It is named after the Tayleur family who held the manor of Longdon-Upon-Tern from the mid 13th century.
