CUSTOMERS and staff had to be evacuated after a fire at a Southampton pub last night.

Firefighters were called to The Bellemoor pub in Hill Lane after the bar and eating area became heavily filled with smoke.

Crews from Redbridge and St Mary's attended the call at 9.45pm, where firemen wore breathing apparatus as they tried to establish the cause.

It is thought the smoke was coming from an air conditioning unit fixed on the roof which had been turned on to supply heat into the pub.

The pub was eventually made safe at 11.30pm.