DRINKERS raised a toast to the re-opening of a North-East pub yesterday - exactly five months after it had been devastated by a fire.

The Old Farmhouse Inn, between Middleton St George and Darlington, was ravaged by the blaze on May 18.

The fire, which started in a grill pan and went on to destroy much of the building, left the future of the popular pub in doubt.

But the Mitchell and Butler Brewery announced in June that it would be reviving the business.

A new larger kitchen was created and improvements made to the beer garden.

A brewery spokeswoman said yesterday: "It's a complete rebuild of what was there before and everyone's delighted that it's open again."