A CLEAN-up operation was mounted yesterday at a fire-hit pub which has been forced to close ahead of one of the busiest weekends of the year.

A family cat raised the alarm at the Red Lion, in North Bitchburn, when the bar caught fire in the early hours of yesterday morning.

Alerted by one of their three daughters, 17-year-old Lucy, just before 1am, owners Keith and Carole Young dialled 999 and firefighters from Crook and Bishop Auckland were quickly on the scene.

The pub is licensed until 1am but the last customers had left around 12.45am and the bar was closed.

Mr Young said: "The cat became spooked and woke Lucy, and she woke us. I went downstairs and remembered my fire training, so I felt the door to see if it was hot before I opened it.

"The bar was full of smoke, so we called the fire brigade and they put the fire out.

"The bar is ruined, but most of the damage is from the smoke so we will have to do a lot redecorating."

Yesterday, as friends and staff rallied round to clear the mess, Mr Young estimated it will be two to three weeks before the pub can reopen.

He said: "We had worked hard to build a reputation for good food, as well as good beer, and we were looking forward to a busy New Year. Now we have to tell people they can't come, which is a shame.

"We had a lot of people coming for meals and people from the village call in because it is a real community pub.

"I hope people will keep in touch so we can let them know when we'll open again."

Customers can call the Red Lion on 01388-763561.