Fire damages historic Charles Dickens pub
Structural engineers have been assessing the damage caused to a Kent pub used by Charles Dickens, after a fire ripped through the premises.
More than 40 firefighters tackled the blaze at the disused Crispin and Crispianus pub in Strood on Saturday.
It took them just over two hours to bring the flames under control after they were called to the scene in London Road at about 2135 GMT.
Medway Council said the pub had been found to be structurally safe.
Robin Cooper, Director of Regeneration, said he hoped the pub could be saved and brought back into use.
The cause of the fire is not yet known.
Charles Dickens used to drink in the pub and wrote about it in his book, The Uncommercial Traveller.
Dickens spent part of his childhood in Chatham and many of his works feature Kent. He died in the Medway village of Higham in 1870 at the age of 58.