More than 50 firefighters tackled a blaze at a Hampshire pub early today.

The blaze broke out at the closed down Red Lion pub in Totton.

It started at about 10.40pm and firefighters stayed at the scene throughout the night. Crews were still damping down the wrecked building this morning and keeping a watch for further flare-ups.

A partial road closure has been put in place causing traffic jams in the area.

Six engines from across south west Hampshire plus an aerial ladder were called to the blaze at the empty pub in Commercial Road.

It started in the first floor and spread to the roof, which collapsed.

The officer in charge, station manager Mark Raven said: “Crews did a great job in tackling the blaze quickly by using the aerial ladder platform to contain the fire to the roof and first floor of the premises.

"Had it not been for the firefighters good work this could have been a much more serious incident with the possibility of the spread of fire and further damage to the building.”

The pub, which had a 2am licence, was shut down last month by police four days before it was due to be closed by its pubco owners Enterprise Inns.

Officers served a closure order in the interests of public safety after landlady Jacqui Barclay, formerly Jacqui Clapp, invited customers to “drink the pub dry”.

At a council meeting last week licencing bosses heard the pub had a history of violence and police were called to a spate of incidents including several fights and assaults in which people were badly injured.

But after reading a 110-page report agreed that the Red Lion could reopen, subject to new licensing hours and a change of staff.

However, its fate remains unclear after Paul Gill, regional manager of Enterprise Inns, was asked if the building would be sold.

He replied: “We’re looking at various options and no decision has been made.”

An investigation has been launched into the cause of the fire.