Bar's thatched roof destroyed by fire

A large section of a charming thatched roof gastropub on the outskirts of Lisburn Co Antrim was today destroyed by a fire.

A blaze broke out in the Tidy Doffer in Ravernet near Sprucefield around lunchtime as it opened for the day's business.

Firefighters managed to save an extension to the pub. However the thatched roof section of the building was completely destroyed.

The gastropub contained a number of looms and other historical artefacts from the linen industry. At one stage, 10 fire appliances were dispatched to the scene to fight the blaze.

PA