Firefighters have battled through the night to try and save the Golden Cross pub in Poyle Road on the Poyle trading estate, as fire swept though the building yesterday.

The White Watch crew from Slough fire station joined colleagues from London and Surrey after receiving the call soon after 4.30pm.

It is understood that half the roof has collapsed and firefighters were on the scene for several hours.

Six breathing apparatus, hose reels, jets and an aerial appliance were all used.

About 60 per cent of the building is understood to be severely damaged.

The fire is believed to have started in the roof and is not being treated as suspicious.

Customers were in the pub at the time the fire started but are not believed to have been at risk at any point.

* The afternoon proved a fraught one for firefighters across the area, who were called to a four vehicle accident on the M25 between junctions 15 and 16 at about 4.45pm and to two people trapped in a car on the M4 between junctions six and five at the same time.

No-one was injured on the M25.