A manor house owner said he is in "catastrophe mode" after a fire badly damaged his home.

About 70 firefighters were called in to tackle the blaze at Hill House on the Souldern Road, between Souldern and Somerton, near Bicester.

Cyril Levicki, of Hill House, said: "We're in catastrophe mode at the moment."

About 20 per cent of the roof and attic area has been damaged and is covered with tarpaulins.

Fire crews were called to the manor house just before 9pm on New Year's Eve, and some were still at the scene the following afternoon.

They used water from a swimming pool and the fire service's water carrier to tackle the fire, which they managed to confine to the attic.

Fire engines from Deddington, Hook Norton, Kidlington, Brackley, Banbury and Bicester also attended the blaze.