FOUR people were rescued on Sunday afternoon after calls were made reporting an explosion and fire at a Launceston pub. At around 4.30pm Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service received the call reporting the explosion and fire at the Launceston Arms on Exeter Street.

Crews from Launceston and Callington and a supervisory officer from Bodmin attended. Further crews were called to assist as smoke was issuing from all levels and there were reports of persons unaccounted for.

The fire was quickly located and extinguished by firefighters with hose-reel jets and all rooms searched using a thermal image camera.

One occupant was assisted from the ground floor to waiting paramedics and three further occupants made an escape to a rear balcony and were later led out to be checked for smoke inhalation by ambulance staff. A fire investigation took place and it is believed to have been an accidental fire that caused an aerosol explosion above the pub.