EMERGENCY fire crews rushed to the scene of a chimney fire at the historic Bear Hotel in Crickhowell at lunchtime on Sunday.

Thanks for their speedy actions the ancient coaching inn was not seriously damaged and the dedicated team behind the scenes were even able to continue with Sunday lunch, which was ’served pretty much as normal’ in other parts of the building.

Co-Owner of The bear, Steve Hindmarsh, praised the quick reactions of The Bear’s staff and Crickhowell’s retained fire crew, who were on the scene within minutes.

Steve said:"The staff were magnificent, as were the fire crew. We are lucky to still have a fire crew in Crickhowell, if they had had to come from further away it might have been a different story."