A fire which ripped through an 18th century pub is being treated as arson.

Shortly before 4.20am on Thursday fire crews and police were called to the Two Brewers pub in Greensted Road, Ongar.

The two crews were confronted with a ground floor of the building heavily smoke logged.

One person was led to safety by firefighters from the rear of the property, which is an old oak beam building dating back to 1791.

The blaze was extinguished by 4.42am after fire fighters Crews used a positive pressure ventilation fan to clear the build up of smoke from the property, which has suffered from smoke damage.

Now police are appealing for anyone who saw or heard anything at that time or in the moments before and after.

In particular they want to speak to anyone who saw a silver vehicle leaving the area at that time.

If you saw or heard anything, have CCTV or dash cam footage, or have any other information, please call us on 101 quoting the crime reference number 42/4795/19 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.