'Banksy' artwork appeared on burnt-out wreck of Hereford pub

But ten years ago, the curiosity of the county was piqued as a Banksy-style artwork appeared on the side of a derelict pub in Hereford.

The Alice in Wonderland-inspired artwork, which strongly resembled those of anonymous Bristol graffiti artist, Banksy, appeared on the Sportsman Inn on Widemarsh Common in February 2011.

The 'Banksy' inspired artwork

However the artist was unlikely to have been the real Banksy, whose works are much sought after, and their identity remains unknown.

Herefordians will remember the now-demolished pub standing empty and forlorn for many years after it closed its doors to customers.

It was the site of a number of fires in the late 2000s and early 2010s, suffering two in just one week in April 2008.

The fire service working to battle the 2008 blaze

Five Polish migrant rescue workers were rescued from the pub during the first, the Hereford Times reported at the time.

The pub was then boarded up, but, just days later, fire crews were again called to the building to tackle what was dubbed "one of Hereford's worst fires of recent years."

The fire service said a series of 999 calls brought emergency services back to the former pub at 4am, but because the building was boarded up, the severe blaze that built up inside had no way out.

Temperatures inside the pub reached such a peak that the interior effectively melted. Only the exterior brickwork withstood the tremendous heat.

Unable to get rescue crews inside, firefighters worked to put as much water on to the blaze as possible as flames roared through the first and second floors to burst out of the roof.

By daybreak the fire was under control, but the ruins smouldered well into the afternoon.

The sad remains of The Sportsman after it was demolished in 2011

It was demolished in 2011, after inspections found the building could not be repaired.