FIRE ripped through the roof of the Woolpack, Sopley on Thursday afternoon.

Staff and customers fought valiantly to control the flames using a garden hose and the pub's fire extinguishers until firefighters arrived.

Member of staff Dee Liberty said: "None of the smoke detectors went off in the loft. A passing driver came in and told us it was on fire."

Barmaid Vicky Hilling said: "The first thing was to call the bosses who were upstairs in the flat. Staff have been very good. They are coming in to help clear up."

Neither of the women thought the pub was likely to open in the immediate future.

However, their father Chris Hankins, who lives in the village and helps out at the premises said: "It's just as well it didn't happen in the middle of the night; somebody saw it and got the fire engines here.

"I'm just relieved they came when they did and saved the building. It's only the thatch and a bit of water damage."

Moray Hicks lives opposite the pub, which is thought to date from 1725.

"It's sad. We're looking at an historical building. It's going to have to have a new roof completely. It's going to be a lot of money," he predicted.

Firefighters from Christchurch, Ringwood, Lyndhurst, Burley, Lymington, New Milton, Beaulieu and Springbourne attended the blaze after the alarm was raised at 4.17pm.

The fire centred on a brick chimney stack on the thatched roof. A woodburner stove had been burning downstairs in the bar during the day, though staff are mystified about how the blaze began, because the woodburner chimney pot had a spark cowl fitted.

The fire teams worked hard removing the burning thatch and creating a firebreak in an attempt to stop the flames spreading.

Water and then foam was sprayed onto the roof from the road while firefighters working on the roof forced foam directly into the thatch in an attempt to stop oxygen feeding the flames.

Meanwhile firefighters rescued credit cards and other valuables from the building The worst of the fire was under control by 5.30pm.

Police closed the normally busy B3347 road while the firefighters dealt with the incident.

The owners, sisters Di and Jo Hankins were not available for comment.