FOUR staff at a Thai restaurant in Malvern Wells escaped with their lives when fire swept through the building yesterday lunchtime.

Fire crews from Malvern, Worcester, Upton-upon-Severn and Ledbury were called to the Bhan Thai restaurant in Wells Road, at 1.25pm.

The A449 Malvern to Ledbury Road was closed and an aerial ladder platform used to help tackle the flames, and residents of neighbouring houses were evacuated while the crews worked.

The fire crews worked to prevent the flames spreading to the house next door. As they fought the blaze, restaurant staff members were huddled on the pavement, looking inconsolable.

Martin Purser, who lives in Grundy's Lane, round the back of the restaurant, said that flames first appeared around a ventilation duct in the roof, before spreading.

"It was only when the big aerial ladder arrived from Worcester that they could really get a lot of water on it," he said.

Although the flames were soon put out, smoke still issued from the roof, and firefighters began the long and laborious task of hunting down hotspots to make sure the blaze was fully extinguished.

Incident commander George Sherry said the fire had caused "considerable damage" to the roof, but it was too early to say what the cause was.

Andy Moseley, co-owner of the restaurant with his wife Sutita, said the staff, who lived on the premises had lost everything. "Clothes, passports, it's all gone, I should think, " he said. "I'll have to find somewhere for them to stay."

"From what the firemen say, it sounds like the place is completely gutted. It's heartbreaking." He said it was doubly distressing because yesterday was his Thai-born wife's birthday.

But Mr Moseley, who also owns the Masons Arms at Wichenford, said he was determined to reopen the restaurant, which has built up a loyal clientele over the last four years.

"I was just pulling into the car park at the Mason's Arms when the staff came running out saying there was a fire here," he said. "I just turned round and came straight back."

He said it looked as if the fire started in the kitchen, on the lower ground floor.

Neighbour Flynn Best said the first she knew about it was when she heard someone outside shouting for everyone to leave the restaurant building because it was on fire. She and other neighbours said how impressed they were with the skill and professionalism of the fire brigade, describing them as "brilliant".