Fire crews called to stately home

More than 50 firefighters have been called to a fire at a stately home in Cambridgeshire.

Fire broke out in the basement of Elton Hall near Peterborough at about 1700 GMT on Saturday, triggering the hall's fire alarm.

The emergency services were alerted and four crews from Peterborough went to the house, which contains paintings by Gainsborough and Constable.

The fire was brought under control by 1830 GMT. No-one was injured.

Investigation started

Crews arrived to find smoke clogging the central staircase and went in with breathing apparatus to bring it under control.

The hall, which is home to a collection of more than 12,000 books, including Henry VIII's prayer book, was then ventilated to let out the smoke.

At the height of the fire crews and support vehicles from Peterborough, Yaxley, Oundle, Sawtry, Whittlesey, Thorney and Huntingdon were on the scene.

A spokesman for the fire service said an investigation would be launched into the cause of the fire.