A FIRE at a Middlewich hotel where 13 guests were sleeping has gutted an upstairs flat.

Firefighters were called to the Boar's Head, in Kinderton Street, just after midnight today.

They found the fire in an upstairs bedroom above the pub, belonging to pub owner Liz McGuinness.

Liz said: “The fire started in our flat above the pub, sometime between 10.45pm and when the fire alarms went off at midnight.

“We had 13 guests – all evacuated safely, thankfully. We managed to get them rooms sorted in the Kinderton Arms and Golden Lion.

"A firefighter said it was probably smouldering for a while – we’re not sure if it was an overheated iPad which was on charge and is now melted.

“We have got good fire doors so it was all contained the flat, which is half gutted. The rest of the pub is just a bit smoky smelling but other than that we should be good to go soon.

“I have been shaking all night and not been to sleep, but I’m just glad everyone’s OK. The firefighters did a sterling job.”

A Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said: "Firefighters were called to a report of a fire at the Boar's Head Hotel inn Kinderton Street, Middlewich.

"When they arrived they found that there was a fire in the bedroom on the first floor. Crews ensured that everyone was out of the hotel before tackling the fire with hose reel jets and large ventilation fans.

"One casualty was treated for smoke inhalation and crews were on scene for around three hours."