TENANTS had to evacuate from a newly refurbished pub after a fire started in the basement.

An 11-year-old child and five adults escaped from the flat above The Railway pub in Ramsbottom after the fire alarm sounded.

The blaze is believed to have started in a chest freezer stored in the basement after a "suspected electrical fault".

Fire crews from Ramsbottom, Bury and Rawtenstall were called to the Bridge Street venue at about 2am today.

The fire damage was contained to the basement, with the freezer and wiring badly burnt, as well as a large area of soot damage.

Meanwhile, smoke had spread to the ground floor and the main pub area, which reopened in June following a £500,000 refurbishment.

A fire investigation is due to be carried out but the incident it not believed to be suspicious.

Steve Wilcock, watch manager at Bury Fire Station, said: "We were called to a building fire at The Railway.

"There were five people in the flat above the pub, including one child who was staying there with her relatives.

"On route, we had reports that the people had managed to get down the fire escape safely.

"The ground floor was smoke logged and there was a fire in the basement."

Crews used breathing apparatus and a fan to clear the smoke from the ground floor.

A fire investigation is due to take place today to determine the cause.

Mr Wilcock said: "It is believed to be an electrical problem. It is not believed to be suspicious."

He added: "The fire door to the basement was closed during the fire, which prevented this incident from being worse.

"With any building, a house or commercial property, if you close all the doors, you are going to create a much better scenario and minimise the spread of the fire and the damage caused."