THREE teenagers have been arrested after a blaze destroyed a historic pub near Winchester.

Nearly 30 firefighters were needed to quell the blaze at the Roman Post restaurant, better known as the Lunways Inn, on the A33 between Kings Worthy and Micheldever.

Firefighters were called in from Winchester, Eastleigh, Sutton Scotney and Alresford after the alarm was raised at about 3.15pm on Friday.

A shortage of water meant water tenders were summoned from Lyndhurst and Eastleigh and the aerial platform ladder from Basingstoke. The flames were doused by 5.10pm.

A police spokesman said three juveniles were later arrested and taken for questioning. The fire is being treated as suspected arson.

The Lunways Inn was once one of Hampshire's busiest pubs lying on the A33. It lost a lot of trade in the 1970s when the M3 took much of the through traffic.

In recent years the pub was converted into an Italian restaurant but has been closed for several years and become increasingly dilapidated.

The present building dates from the early 18th century when the Winchester to Basingstoke turnpike road was built on the line of the old Roman road.