A CUSTOMER got more than he bargained for when dropped in for a pint at his old Suffolk drinking spot and ended up tackling a blaze.Paul Knowles was visiting his old hometown of Stowmarket from Maidstone, Kent, when he decided to drop in at Capones Bar 'n' Grill to catch up with mates over a beer.

By James Fraser

A CUSTOMER got more than he bargained for when dropped in for a pint at his old Suffolk drinking spot and ended up tackling a blaze.

Paul Knowles was visiting his old hometown of Stowmarket from Maidstone, Kent, when he decided to drop in at Capones Bar 'n' Grill to catch up with mates over a beer.

But no sooner had he walked in at around 12.50pm on Saturday than "Sharon from behind the bar dragged me through" to the kitchen to put out a fire, he said.

Rob Cook, owner of Capones in Station Road West, said the fire was confined to the chargrill barbecue where the chef had been cooking steaks for customers' lunches. The chef called the fire service when he was unable to quell the flames but Mr Knowles, 30, stepped in to rescue the situation before firefighters arrived.

"I'd just come in for a beer and I did what any good ex-service person would do," said Mr Knowles who used to be in the airforce and also, conveniently, worked for a fire extinguisher firm.

"It could have taken hold because the chip fat fryers were right next to where it was," he said after putting out the flames with a fire extinguisher.

Mr Cook, 37, said the steaks were burned and all the food had to be thrown away but that damage to the kitchen had been minimal. "That was the end of lunch," he added, telling how Capones' customers were left hungry after the blaze put an end to serving at midday on Saturday.