LANDLORD Huw Williams told today how he led his family to safety from their 19th century Newport pub after a blaze broke out.

The fire in the Church House Inn, St Bride's, was discovered shortly after closing time.

Mr Williams, his wife Kita, their three children and the family's pets left the pub safely and the quick res-ponse of the fire service prevented more substantial damage.

Mr Williams was locking up after everyone had gone home. "I heard a pop like the electricity trips were going and went to have a look," he said.

"At that point my daughter came down and said she could smell smoke. "I went upstairs and looked outside and I could see a lot of smoke so I thought we had a chimney fire but when I went outside I could see the smoke was coming out underneath the roof.

"I went back upstairs and I could see a glow in the roof space." Mr and Mrs Williams, together with Carys, 17, 15-year-old Thomas and 14-year-old James who were still in their pyjamas, went into the car park. "The fire brigade arrived within 20 minutes and found the roof was well and truly alight but they put it out very quickly.

"We were very lucky, they reckoned another 20 minutes and we would have lost the whole of the upper floor."

Mrs Williams said: "The fire brigade was excellent and they saved furniture by moving it before the water came through."

Members of the close-knit rural community rallied around the family and she said neighbours, including farmers Mostyn and Pat Scrivens who took in the three youngsters for the night, had been very good.

Fire crews from Duffryn, Malpas and Maindee tackled the blaze which was believed to have been caused by a defective chimney flue.

Sub-officer Lawrence Morris said: "If the fire had been later in the night, or if it had taken hold in the roof void, the damage would have been substantial."