THE former managers of a Hampshire pub have appeared in court in connection with a blaze at the premises.

The Tollhouse pub, in Lymington, was closed for several months as a result of the fire.

Husband and wife Dean and Melynda Thomas were accused of arson at the pub, in Southampton Road, between June 29 and July 2 last year when reckless as to whether life might be endangered.

They were also charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice.

He was said to have telephoned a detective and given him false information.

She is said to have provided a false statement to the police which led to the arrest of another person.

They denied all charges.

Prosecutor Nicholas Tucker told Southampton Crown Court the trial was expected to take two weeks.

Judge Derwin Hope adjourned the hearing until April 10 and granted Dean Thomas, 41, and Melynda Thomas, 35, from Bristol, unconditional bail.

The Daily Echo reported at the time that five people were in the premises when it went up in flames in the early hours.

A man and his dog were rescued from a first-floor window by firefighters using a ladder.

The other occupants of the pub – once known as the Monkey House – also escaped but were treated for smoke inhalation at Southampton General Hospital.