Firefighters from across Shropshire and Mid Wales spent more than four hours battling a huge house fire near Welshpool.Crews from Welshpool, Newtown, Llandrindod Wells and Oswestry were called out to the Old School House in Pool Quay just after 6pm after reports of flames coming from the roof of the property.

Paramedics were also called, but the property was found to be empty.

Firefighters later began removing tiles from the detached property to access and cool down hot spots.

A Mid and West Wales Fire Service spokesman said: “We received a call just after 6pm reporting involving a fire on the roof of a detached dwelling in Pool Quay.

“There were no reports of anyone being inside the property and once the firefighters felt the fire was calm we used thermal imaging cameras to check for any small areas still on fire or still hot.

“It was quite a major operation, with a number of crews in attendance and specialist equipment being used and we were on the scene until 10.25pm.”

One local resident, who declined to be named, said he saw the emergency services at the scene.

He said: “I noticed there was something happening at the house and there appeared to be a number of fire engines and firefighters down there.

“I thought it must be quite a big fire because the emergency services seemed to be there for a long time.”