Crews tackle blaze at historic home

Firefighters were called to a blaze at an historic south Shropshire home today.

Crews from Cleobury Mortimer, Ludlow and Hereford were called out to Hopton Court, Hopton Wafers, near Cleobury Mortimer, at 9.15am.

Fire officers used an aerial ladder to tackle the blaze which started in a second floor flat.

Watch manager Neil Griffiths said that no one was injured and that the fire had been brought under control very quickly.

He said: "Somebody working in the woods noticed the fire."

He added inquiries were being made to establish the source of the fire.

Owner Christopher Woodward said: "It must have been burning for some time. I heard a noise and I thought it was the builders and did not take any notice and of course it must have been the window going out.

"The gardener discovered it, he saw the smoke coming from the window."

Mr Woodward said the flat was unoccupied and added: "It looks to me that we have got away with it very lightly."

He said some of the furniture in the room had been destroyed and there was a lot of smoke damage.

The property is known in the area for hosting the Hole in the Wall music concerts in its grounds each summer, which attract thousands of people.