A PUB was evacuated after a tumble dryer caught fire as staff prepared for a fully-booked Mother's Day.

Workers at The Huntsman were getting ready to serve 74 diners when bar towels loaded into a first floor appliance suddenly set alight.

Extensive flames quickly spread, causing extensive damage to a kitchenette.

Firefighters went to the venue, in Delphouse Road, Cheadle, at 11.39am on Sunday, and staff had to leave the premises.

Two emergency workers wearing breathing apparatus extinguished the flames.

Landlord Kieran Devine said: "It was soul destroying. We spent the whole day apologising to people who had expected to come here to celebrate Mothering Sunday.

"Thankfully, nobody was hurt and the fire was contained. We have managed to keep the bar open and we hope to be serving food as soon as today."

Fire station manager Simon Craythorn said:

"Thankfully it did not happen during the night as there could have been more severe consequences, both to the business and to those on the premises."

Earlier this year the pub, sitting at the bottom of a valley, was engulfed in two foot of water which had run down The Green, Draycott Cross Road and Delphouse Road. Fire-fighters were called to deal with a saturated cellar.