THE landlord of the Ring of Bells pub in Taunton has thanked family and friends for their support after a devastating fire tore through the building on Saturday night.

Speaking exclusively to the County Gazette Darren Ferguson, aged 33, said he, his partner, and their five children had been left with little more than the clothes they were wearing and the money in their pockets.

The family was not in the pub when fire broke out -- but their pet dog Merlin and baby tarantula Rosie survived for several hours amid smoke and flames before being rescued.

For full story see this week's County Gazette