VIDEO UPDATE: Fire at former pub in Blackwood was 'deliberate'

Eyewitnesses have described how they could not see out of their windows as the smoke from the fire was so thick.

Kate Simmonds, 35, of Maesgwyn, lives opposite the White Hart.

She said: "We were watching the television last night about 8.30pm when we noticed the smell of smoke.

“I couldn’t see outside because of how thick the smoke was and it was coming through our windows.

“It could of killed us as I blew my noise and it was just all black.

“The White Hart has been derelict for 2 years but used to be the heart of the community and people would come to it from miles around.

“Towards the end it did become a bit run down and there was a lot of anti-social behaviour.

“It looks like the roof is about to cave in and they are likely to pull the whole thing down next week.”

Levi Davies, 16, of Maesgwyn, said: "I was already out of the house and saw the smoke and thought would go and have a look.

“I had to wear a gas mask to go out in it and the smoke was thick and black.

“I then saw some fireman disappear into the smoke and continued to video it from inside my house.”

Below: Eyewitnesses Kate Simmonds and Levi Davies.

Craig James, 32, a filmmaker, of Strathview in Pontllanfraith, said: "My mum saw the smoke initially but she thought it was just thick fog.

“15-20 minutes later I actually realised it was a blaze and when I headed out the fire engines were there.

“I have a good lens on my camera so I was able to stand quite far away to film and the emergency services had put a barrier up to stop people getting too close.”

Suzie Jones, 28, of Strathview said: "It started at around 8pm and the smoke was impossible to see through.

“It was insane and so thick I couldn’t see the bus stop outside my own house.

“It absolutely stunk and my pyjamas still have the smell of the smoke on them from last night.”

UPDATE: 9.29AM

A spokeswoman for South Wales Fire and Rescue Service said the fire was extinguished at around 12am last night after four hours of firefighting.

She added that the fire was deliberately started and an inspection will take place today.

Video by Levi Davies.

The pub on fire last night. Photo: Ellis Porter

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FIREFIGHTERS are tackling a blaze at a former pub in Blackwood.

Gwent Police have closed Newbridge Road while four fire crews deal with the incident at the former White Hart pub in Pontllanfraith.

Two crews from Aberbargoed and single crews from Caerphilly and Abercarn, are in attendance at the two-storey building.

Jennie Griffiths, head of fire control at South Wales Fire and Rescue Service, said the building was well alight on arrival at around 8pm.

Residents in the Pontllanfraith area have been advised to keep their windows closed.

Above: The blaze last night. Below: The aftermath. Photos: Robert Dorian Barbero