FIREFIGHTERS acted quickly to stop a severe fire spreading through a former film studio in Gwent.

A member of the public reported the fire at the Penhow Film Studios on the A48 Chepstow Road next to the Rock and Fountain pub at about 10.30pm on Wednesday.

Eleven firefighters from Malpas and Caldicot fought the flames for an hour before the scene was made safe.

Fire investigators are not treating the blaze at the building as suspicious. Caldicot fire station commander Steve Price said: "The crews ensured the fire was brought under control and extinguished at an early stage.

"The adjoining studios definitely would have gone up but for the quick intervention of the fire service.

"When I arrived at the scene there were flames and a large quantity of smoke coming from the disused building."

He said the source of the fire was in the main foyer of the office block and that flames spread from there.

Mr Price said the building was severely damaged by fire and smoke but was still safe and would not need to be demolished.

Sergeant John Giles from Alway police said: "There is nothing at this stage to suggest anything suspicious but inquiries are ongoing to establish the cause of the fire."

He said a group of people seen nearby the office building were ruled out of the inquiry after police questioned them.