A PUB-RESTAURANT chain says it will rebuild its outlet in Pontypool which was destroyed by fire.

And the Harvester chain is carrying out an internal investigation to determine the cost and the cause of the blaze that gutted the restaurant on the A4042 on Wednesday evening.

Flames leapt 50 feet in the air and black smoke from the blaze could be seen from three miles away.

The fire started at around 4pm, and more than 20 firefighters from across Gwent battled the blaze before it was brought under control at 8.30pm.

No-one was injured in the blaze and all staff and customers were evacuated.

A spokeswoman for Mitchells and Butlers, who are owners of the Harvester chain, said their fire safety team were carrying out an internal investigation into the fire. She said: "The fire safety team will carry out an internal investigation into the cause of the fire, the extent of the damage and costs.

"It is our intention to rebuild, but we will have to conduct the investigation to determine the costs and the amount of work required."

A spokeswoman for the South Wales Fire Service said investigators were at the scene yesterday and some forensic evidence was being gathered by the fire service.

She said: "It is not believed to have been started deliberately nor have there been any suspicious circumstances. It could take up to a week to find out the exact cause."

She said police are not involved in the investigations.