A hotel fire has shut High Street in Standlake, near Witney, both ways this afternoon.

Passers-by said alarms alerted them to a fire at The Bell Inn in High Street around 3pm and that the fire has badly damaged the hotel’s first floor.

Staff member at Standlake Post Office and Stores – also on High Street - Michael McManus said: "There has been a fire at The Bell Inn and it was pretty bad. You could hear the roof tiles going bang and pop as they heated up.

"They have had about six fire engines here since the fire alarms went off about two hours ago. The fire has been put out now and there is no more smoke, I believe all the staff managed to get out before the fire service turned up.

"From what has been said it seems a number of the bedrooms were damaged up the top."

The road has been closed between the A415 Abingdon Road and the junction with Church End and Rack End.