Pub-goers had their Sunday lunch interrupted by a fire at The Alma, Springfield.
Chelmsford firefighters were called to the Arbour Lane pub at 3.20pm after a faulty tumble drier set fire to beer mats and tea towels.
Staff and customers were evacuated while two firefighters wearing breathing apparatus entered a back room to tackle the fire.
Station officer Gary Bishop said: "There were a lot of tea towels and beer mats in the tumble drier, which developed a fault and set the contents on fire, heavily smoke logging the room."
The fire was brought under control in half an hour and the building suffered no serious damage.
Published Monday September 13, 2004
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