FIRE engines from three counties were called to a blaze at the home of Lechlade newsagent Arthur Chase in January 1969.

By the time the firemen had the blaze under control, an upstairs sitting room, a garage and a car were destroyed.

“There seemed to be an explosion but I don’t really know what happened,” said Mr Chase.

He told the Standard he did not know the amount of damage that was caused by the fire but added that his car alone was worth £600.

He added that he had been improving the now damaged part of the house, which dated back to 1530, for the previous four years.

“I think I was extremely lucky, since the fire was isolated to that wing of the building.

“If the main building had burned, nothing would have stopped it from spreading to the shop and the adjacent buildings,” he said.

Although part of the house was completely destroyed, no one was hurt and Mr Chase paid tribute to the way the firemen who came from Fairford, Bampton and Faringdon, fought the blaze.