Get the biggest stories sent straight to your inbox Sign up for regular updates and breaking news from WalesOnline Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

A baby tortoise had to be rescued by firefighters when a blaze broke out in an award-winning pub.

Little Gordon was treated for smoke inhalation and later given a clean bill of health after he was carried to safety from an upstairs room of the Horse and Jockey pub in Knighton, Powys .

Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus searched the smoke-filled flat above the pub to check if anyone had been left behind following the fire in the chimney – and found the baby tortoise.

He was taken to a nearby vet where he was given a clean bill of health.

(Image: Jane Bywater/WALES NEWS SERVICE)

Gordon belongs to pub manager Craig Small who is on holiday in Thailand.

The pub, the current Mid Wales Inn of the Year, later reopened.

Owner Gary Salt said: “We have told Craig of his pet’s lucky escape. The upstairs accommodation is all smoke damaged but we will have it all done and decorated by the time Craig comes back.

(Image: Jane Bywater/WALES NEWS SERVICE)

“We got the tortoise straight over to the vets and had him checked and he’s all good.”

Vet Ben Gill said: “He was brought to us to see if he had suffered any effects from the fire but we are happy to say he was fine.”