EXTINGUISHING a blazing pub - that was the challenge that met Basingstoke firefighters at a special training exercise.

Firefighters from White Watch deliberately set alight a room in the disused Nine Saxons pub in the old Oakridge Centre, Oakridge, Basingstoke, and then set about putting out the flames.

The exercise was a joint venture between the fire service and Sentinel Housing Group.

Housing group bosses allowed the firefighters to use the pub, which is due to be demolished, to gain first-hand experience of tackling a fire.

Leading firefighter Ian Thresh, of Basingstoke fire station, said: "Training opportunities like this are invaluable, especially for newer recruits who might not have attended a house fire before."

Sandie Plowman, communications co-ordinator at Sentinel Housing Group, added: "There is always an open offer to the fire service to train on our demolition sites."

A new pub has been built in Oakridge Road to replace the Nine Saxons, although it has yet to be leased.