Red Lion pub completely destroyed in Great Wakering fire

The roof and first floor of the Red Lion, in Great Wakering High Street was completely destroyed after the blaze took hold around 4.30am on Sunday morning.

Steven Hayman, 39, who lives opposite the pub on Great Wakering High Street quickly jumped into action when he saw the flames.

The 39-year-old said: “I woke up hearing popping noises and when I looked out the window I saw the flames. I ran outside and banged on the pub door but no lights turned on. 

“I knocked on the neighbours doors because the fire was spreading quite quickly and called the fire brigade. 

“We suddenly saw a face appear in the pub window, on the top floor of the pub, and then two kids appeared. 

“Part of the roof collapsed with them in it but the fire brigade were superb. They broke the third window to get them all out. 

“They were so lucky because then the fire caught hold on the other side of the roof.”

A fire spokesman said: “Firefighters extinguished the fire by 06.45am. One adult and two children who suffered smoke inhalation were left in the care of the Ambulance Service.”

Victor Peachment, who lives a few doors down from the pub, said: “We saw the fire from start to finish and it was quite bad.

“I went back to see how bad the damage was and the roof and top floor is completely on the ground now.

“It is the best pub in Great Wakering, it is part of the community where everyone meets up.”

Mr Peachment’s daughter, Aimee, 13, was with him watching the fire. She said: “I was woken up at around 5am and we went outside and saw the fire and the crews.

“It was pretty bad, it is a wooden building so the fire spread quickly. You could see the open flames from the back, it was pretty frightening.

“There were a lot of fire crews and police there and they didn’t leave until about 8am this morning.”

The fire service have said their initial investigation has suggested the cause of the fire was accidental.