A pub landlord was today counting the cost after fire ripped through his historic pub.

Going up in smoke - some of the 30 firefighters involved in putting out the blaze at the Plough Inn

The Plough Inn in North Road, Great Clacton, dates back to the 16th century and is in a conservation area.

Landlord Tim O'Brien rescued his three young sons from an upstairs bedroom while afternoon drinkers fled the blazing building.

The alarm was raised by florist, Jill Snelling, who spotted the blaze from her shop across the road and rushed over.

Fuelled by high winds it quickly spread throughout the length of the tiled roof. But firefighters were able to prevent it spreading to the Queen's Head Hotel next door and the premises the other side.

The road was closed for several hours. Firefighters were on the scene until the late evening damping down. An initial theory that the blaze may have been started deliberately was later dismissed but a fire investigation was today under way.

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Published Tuesday, September 21, 2004

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