SQUATTERS at a disused pub on Southampton Street had to be rescued after a fire they lit to keep themselves warm spiralled out of control on Thursday (January 12) evening.

Three fire crews were called to the outskirts of the town centre at 7pm, where seven people were rescued unharmed from the former Red Lion.

The fire moved from the ground floor to the second floor, with two of the squatters having to be evacuated by the help of breathing masks.

Crew manager David Grayson, from Caversham Road station, said: "We had an incident on Southampton Street at a disused pub. It was caused by squatters living in the property. They lit a fire on the ground floor.

"It got a bit out of control and caused a fire in the chimney stack and it spread to the first and second floor of the building where the squatters were living.

"We used six breathing apparatuses and used hose reels to extinguish the fire.

"Five of the squatters escaped the building prior to our arrival. Two residents were led to safety by help of the breathing apparatus after they were discovered on the second floor."

Crews from Caversham, Wokingham Road and Whitley were at the scene for two hours.

Nobody was injured or taken to hospital as a result of the blaze.