Villagers in Brightwell-cum-Sotwell, near Wallingford, have rallied round to help after Sunday's devastating fire at the Red Lion pub.

The pub, a 500-year-old thatched free house in The Street, caught fire shortly before lunchtime.

Despite the efforts of 60 firefighters, the blaze raged into the night.

Nick and Alison Zalinski, a couple with a four-month-old baby who lived in the adjoining thatched cottage, were made homeless after the flames spread to their house.

They are now staying with neighbours and villagers have given them baby clothes as the family lost many possessions in the fire.

Pub landlord Bill Prince, 48, said the blaze had been heart-breaking. He spent yesterday cancelling around 200 Christmas bookings, including the Environment Agency's office party due to be held this week.

He said: "I'm trying to be philosophical about it. Nobody was hurt. Luckily there were only two or three people in the pub at the time because we were just about to open at midday.

"A customer came in and said the thatch was smoking near one of the chimneys and we made sure everybody was out.

"I feel more sorry for the couple in the cottage next door. It's their first Christmas with a young baby. I have to get up and running again. Next year we'll make sure we have a good Christmas."

He said he hoped to get the pub rebuilt in six months.

Parish council chairman Tony Hayzelden helped find storage for some of the Zalinskis' salvaged possessions.

He said: "It's a real blow to the village but everyone is determined the pub will be rebuilt."

Firefighters managed to stop the fire spreading to a third property in The Street and saved the pub's restaurant annexe.

An Oxfordshire Fire Service spokesman said the cause of the blaze was still being investigated.