A MAN escaped from his bedroom above a Maldon pub which was the target of arsonists by clambering down a roof to safety He was alerted to the fire in the early hours of Saturday after smoke alarms went off.
The man stayed on the line with Essex ~Fire Brigade's operators after initially raising the alarm from his bedroom above The Cups Public House in Wantz Road and at the front of the two-storey building. He decided to clamber down a roof to safety and was at the roadside unhurt when crews arrived at the scene.
The man confirmed that someone had thrown lighted materials through a pub window, triggering the blaze.
Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus used two hose reels to tackle the incident, which was under control by 4am.
A joint Police and Fire Service investigation is being carried out.