A pub landlord and his family fled to safety early today after a blaze threatened to engulf their home.

The fire, at the rear of The Three Mariners, Trimley St Mary, near Felixstowe, started with an explosion in historic barn outbuildings and spread to a car parked alongside the pub.

Locals raised the alarm and one nearby resident tried to save pets believed to have been housed in the buildings but was beaten back flames.

Two Suffolk fire crews from Felixstowe attended the grade 2 listed pub and put out the flames although the building was destroyed.

Landlord and landlady Dave and Debbie Atkinson were woken by a loud bang as the fire took hold and evacuated their children.

Extent of damage to the pub isn't yet known. Cause of the explosion is being looked in to although it may have been based on a canister.