Ledbury High Street was blocked and traffic diverted after a fire in a chimney at the historic Feathers Hotel.

The chimney blaze, the second at the premises in recent months, was attended by one engine and a crew of six from Bye Street fire station yesterday (Thursday).

Officer in charge Keith Wildig said the emergency call was received at 7.40am. He called in the extendable turntable ladder as a precaution.

Diversions were put in place at the Top Cross and Bye Street junctions and were still in place at 9am, although by that time the blaze had been put out with the use of hose reel jets.

The chimney suffered no apparent structural damage.