A popular Colchester pub had to be evacuated this morning after a fire broke out in the top floor of the building.

East Anglian Daily Times: The smoke from the pub fire escaped from windows and a hole in the roof of the top floor flat. Picture: JAMES BUCKThe smoke from the pub fire escaped from windows and a hole in the roof of the top floor flat. Picture: JAMES BUCK (Image: Archant)

Crews removed tiles from the roof and used hoses to suppress the fire in the third floor flat above The Kings Arms, in Crouch Street.

Units from the town plus those from Wivenhoe, Coggeshall, Brightlingsea, Weeley and Chelmsford arrived shortly after 11am after multiple calls from local residents.

The pub had opened at 11am and had already begun serving when the blaze started, but crews at the scene reported all people inside were quickly and safely evacuated by staff.

Crouch Street was closed and all three emergency services were in attendance, with three police cars and three ambulances filling the narrow street.

East Anglian Daily Times: Smoke billowed from the hole made in the roof of the pub as firefighters extinguished the blaze at the Kings Arms, Crouch Street. Picture: JAMES BUCKSmoke billowed from the hole made in the roof of the pub as firefighters extinguished the blaze at the Kings Arms, Crouch Street. Picture: JAMES BUCK (Image: Archant)

Station manager Partridge, the commander for the incident, said: “We attended a well developed fire on the second floor of the building on Crouch Street.

“The fire did spread in the building but was contained to the compartments in the building.”

Incident commander Partridge thanked the great work of the first firefighters on the scene from Colchester, who used a powerful fan - called a positive pressure fan - to prevent the flames spreading to the adjoining building.

He added: “The quick thinking of that crew has saved the majority of the building.”

East Anglian Daily Times: The pub is not expected to open for the rest of the day, having sustained water damage on the ground floor. Picture: JAKE FOXFORDThe pub is not expected to open for the rest of the day, having sustained water damage on the ground floor. Picture: JAKE FOXFORD (Image: Archant)

Crews also broke through the front door of the estate agent Boydens two doors down the street to gain access to the back of the building.

A spokesman for the Essex County Fire and Rescue service said when fire crews arrived they reported the third floor of the building was affected by fire and it was spreading to the roof.

They added: “The fire was in a building which measures approximately 25m x10m and is affected the third floor and the roof.”

The fire was extinguished at 1.15pm and an investigation will be carried out to find the cause of the blaze.

East Anglian Daily Times: Fire crews from Colchester and Clacton attended the scene. Picture: JAKE FOXFORDFire crews from Colchester and Clacton attended the scene. Picture: JAKE FOXFORD (Image: Archant)

Essex Fire and Rescue have not yet announced the cause of the fire but resident of Manor road, behind the pub, reported that it may be due to an electrical fault.

East Anglian Daily Times: The damage to the top floor of the building was caused by somke and water, as well as the hole that the fire service had to create to safely extinguish the fire. Picture: JAKE FOXFORDThe damage to the top floor of the building was caused by somke and water, as well as the hole that the fire service had to create to safely extinguish the fire. Picture: JAKE FOXFORD (Image: Archant)

East Anglian Daily Times: The fire led to the emergency services shitting Crouch Street this morning. Picture: JAKE FOXFORDThe fire led to the emergency services shitting Crouch Street this morning. Picture: JAKE FOXFORD (Image: Archant)

East Anglian Daily Times: The Kings Arms was evacuated quickly and safely, having been open for the morning from 11am. Picture: JAKE FOXFORDThe Kings Arms was evacuated quickly and safely, having been open for the morning from 11am. Picture: JAKE FOXFORD (Image: Archant)

East Anglian Daily Times: Firefighters clear the scene after the fire on the top floor of the pub. Picture: JAKE FOXFORDFirefighters clear the scene after the fire on the top floor of the pub. Picture: JAKE FOXFORD (Image: Archant)