A lorry crashing into overhead electrical cables sparked a blaze that partly destroyed an historic thatched cottage. Police have launched an investigation following the blaze in Hall Lane, Swynnerton, near Stone, yesterday (May 20).

Multiple fire engines spent 11 hours tackling the flames after smoke was seen coming from the roof at around 1pm. Now an investigation has revealed the unfortunate chain of events that led to the inferno.

A Staffordshire Police spokesman said: "We are appealing for information following a large house fire in Swynnerton. Officers were called to Main Street just after 1pm yesterday by colleagues from Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service.

"Firefighters extinguished a large house fire and nobody was reported injured. They deemed the fire to have been caused by a lorry colliding with the overhead electrical cables causing them to fall onto the thatched roof. Our enquiries are ongoing. Anyone with any information that may help our investigation is asked to contact us."

A total of seven fire engines, an aerial ladder platform and two water carriers were sent to the scene with the last crew leaving at around midnight.

During the height of the incident and neighbours were urged to keep their windows and doors shut 'due to the large amount of smoke'.

A Staffordshire Fire Rescue Service spokesman said: "We have extinguished a large house fire in Swynnerton. Firefighters were called to Hall Lane at 1pm yesterday following reports of a thatched roof on fire. Upon arrival, the fire had already spread along the ridge of the thatched cottage.

"Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus used hose reel jets and main jets to bring the blaze under control. Nobody was reported injured. Main firefighting operations concluded at around midnight, with crews continuing periodic inspections."

Anyone with information is asked to call 101, quoting incident 297 of May 20. To report anonymously, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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