A PUB in Densole near Folkestone was badly damaged by fire Friday evening.

The blaze started in a bedroom at the Black Horse on Canterbury Road just before 7.30pm.

Landlord and lady Ian and Rose Sawyer evacuated 40 customers after smoke detectors alerted them.

Mr Sawyer attempted to fight the flames, but the fire was too fierce and it took 25 firefighters from the Folkestone and Aylesham stations nearly three hours to tackle it.

Their job was hindered by the tinder-dry oak beams running through the historic property. The fire has left the pub structurally unsound.