A pub closed for eight months because of the 2007 floods has been hit by a devastating fire.

Fourteen regulars at the Plough Inn, in Witney’s High Street, had to flee the pub last night after a fire broke out in a tumble dryer upstairs and spread to the roof.

About 30 firefighters tackled the blaze and crews were still at the pub this morning damping down hotspots.

The living quarters were badly damaged and the fire burned a hole in the roof, meaning the pub will be shut for several weeks for repairs.

It had only reopened last April after major repair work was needed when it was inundated by the River Windrush in July 2007.

Landlord Guy Ripley and business partner Rob O’Connell were facing up to the latest setback.

Mr O’Connell, 43, of Burwell Meadow, Witney, said: “It’s not as bad as it looks. I ‘m trying to remain as positive as possible.”

Mr Ripley, 47, said: “I feel pretty bad. We need to get back open as soon as possible.

“If it had happened a few hours later, I would have been fast asleep.”

Neighbour Brian Crawford was told to leave his home by firefighters. He said he felt sorry for the publicans.

Robert Viner, owner of Oxford International College of Beauty, on the corner of High Street and Witan Way, has built six flats at the rear of the Plough. He said he had received a call from a student living in his flats, who was evacuated by the fire brigade.

Mr Viner said: “It was quite serious stuff. There were about six fire engines. The road was closed.

“There was masses of smoke from the front of the building and flames to the back.”

Mike Bingham, a risk reduction officer for Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service, said that he believed the fire had started in the tumble dryer, in a laundry room on the first floor.

He said: “The guy who runs the pub noticed his electrics were tripping.

“He turned them off and on and realised something was wrong.

“Without any thought, he evacuated everyone and did absolutely the right thing.

“We were then able to do our job and stop the fire spreading.”

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