Fire investigation officers will be returning to the site of a fire ravaged 16th century cottage in south Shropshire today to try to establish the cause of the blaze.

The house in Onibury, near Craven Arms, was devastated after fire ripped through it on Saturday evening.

One of the owners, who was inside the house at the time and was helped to safety by a neighbour, is believed to have now been reunited with her husband who was away.

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Despite early investigations by fire officers, who took several hours to get the blaze under control, there are no indications as to how the fire started.

Principal Fire Officer at Shrewsbury Fire Station, Mike Ablitt, today said investigators were due back on site today to continue their investigations and recover property for the owners.

Mr Ablitt said: “It is part of our service after we have dealt with a fire to go through the wreckage and salvage as many personal items belonging to the owners as possible. We do all we can to keep the belongings together and safeguard them for the owners.”

A security guard is today manning the remains of the property.

The couple have been too devastated to speak after the fire, which gutted the first floor of the house.

The fire broke out at 6.40pm and neighbours described seeing the sky as “a glow” and flames up to 10ft high following the blaze.

The cottage had a thatched roof which was alight when the fire service arrived. It took more than three hours to bring the blaze under control.