DINERS were forced to flee from a pub near Worcester as fire swept through the kitchen roof.

Staff at The Swan, in Martin Hussingtree, tried to fight the blaze before being driven out.

Within seconds, flames tore through the 40ft-long roof, sending smoke billowing across nearby fields.

"It was quite staggering how quickly it went," said neighbour Norman Wright, one of several witnesses to raise the alarm at 5.15pm.

Nearly 50 firefighters from Worcester, Bromsgrove, Droitwich and Malvern tackled the blaze, while police helped direct evening traffic over hoses laid in the road. A turntable ladder was among eight fire vehicles called to the scene.

"I'd just come home and parked the car and could see the roof billowing with smoke," said 64-year-old Mr Wright.

"It started at the gable end. You could see great clouds of white smoke drifting over the fields."

The blaze was believed to have started in the extraction unit, and raced along a duct, fed by deposits of cooking fat.

Ann and Clive Porter had chosen their meal minutes earlier.

"We'd ordered char-grilled chicken, but didn't expect it that well done," joked Mrs Porter, 48, from Stourbridge.

"We could smell smoke, but didn't realise anything was happening until they asked everyone to leave."

Assistant Divisional Officer Ian Taylor said all the roof tiles would need to be stripped off the kitchen to flush out any smouldering embers.

"It appears the chef was cooking and the pan flashed and set fire to the extractor unit," he said.

"The staff tried to tackle the fire with three extinguishers and a fire blanket, but couldn't control it. By the time the first fire engine got here, the flames were coming through the roof."

ADO Taylor said firefighters had managed to bring the flames under control and stop them destroying the accommodation unit.

Wolverhampton & Dudley Breweries, which owns the pub, said it would be closed for six weeks for repairs.

"It's very unfortunate, especially at this time of year, when business begins to build up. But the staff did well to act so promptly," said company spokeswoman Rosemary Hill.

She was unable to put a figure on the amount of damage caused, but described it as "severe".

None of the five staff on duty, or customers, were injured.