Fire-hit pub chief vows to rebuild business

And Michael Ibbotson today thanked villagers who rallied round to help after the blaze.

The Durham Ox, at Crayke, named last month as one of the best 50 restaurants outside London and only recently refurbished, was severely smoke and water damaged after Sunday night's fire.

All bookings for the next two weeks have been cancelled and the clean-up operation was continuing today.

Mr Ibbotson, 29, who only took over the 18th Century pub and restaurant nine months ago, said the help and goodwill of neighbours had helped soften the blow to his first solo venture.

"Spare jumpers and cups of tea arrived from nowhere when we were standing around outside after the fire," he said.

"And other people kindly offered a place to sleep for staff who were living on the premises. Then everyone rallied round so we could get the bar opened on Monday - it was quite touching."

Although no one was injured in the blaze, which was caused by a candle left unattended in a staff bathroom, onlookers and restaurant staff became increasingly concerned when the pub's cat, Bagpuss, remained unaccounted for when the building was evacuated.

But a cheer went up when Bagpuss, who had been soundly asleep in an upstairs bedroom, was carried out by his owner.

Mr Ibbotson also praised the Easingwold and Acomb-based firefighters who were on the scene in minutes and who stopped the blaze from causing more than superficial damage to most of the restaurant.

A section of the kitchen roof caved in because of the water used to put out the fire upstairs and many of the rooms are smoke and water damaged.

The bathroom where the fire started was gutted by flames.

"But it could have been so much worse than it was," he said.

All reservations for the next two weeks have been cancelled, although the bar remains open.

PICTURE: DEBRIS: Michael Ibbotson, owner of The Durham Ox, surveys the damage in the pub kitchen

Picture: Garry Atkinson