AN URBAN explorer has said he was sad to hear of a fire at a closed village pub and criticised the backlash against the explorer community.
Robbie Parker, who is one half of B&R Urban Explorers UK, alongside his wife, Beth, visited the Portway Inn last year, uncovering a horse's skull on the floor, old newspaper clippings, and glasses of drinks.
He spoke of his shock after discovering emergency crews had been called to the 16th-century Staunton-on-Wye pub on Sunday after a report of smoke issuing from the building.
A West Mercia Police spokesperson has since confirmed that an investigation is ongoing, with the fire currently being treated as arson.
"We are extremely sad that there has been a fire there and shocked to hear that it is being treated as arson," Mr Parker said.
"A lot of people are trying to put the blame on 'explorers' and that really isn't fair.
"We never cause any damage or take anything.
"We simply document what we find and take photos."
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Mr Parker, from Pembrokeshire, said news of the fire had come as a "huge shock" to the couple, with a second exploration spot of theirs, 'The Meat House', in Little Hereford, having suffered a fire just a week previously.
He says the community has come under criticism following the visits and has responded to the backlash.
Mr Parker said they conduct their explorations by following the ethos of "take nothing but photos, leave nothing but footprints", adding that the recent fire in Little Hereford had been "devastating."
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