Orange Order hall destroyed in fire

An Orange Order hall in Co Tyrone has been destroyed in a fire, police said today.

Officers are investigating the cause of the blaze at the two storey building in Pomeroy.

The emergency services were alerted shortly before 3.15am, but the fire had taken hold.

The fire service has now brought the blaze on the Donaghmore Road under control, but local station commander Michael Flanagan said there was major damage.

“The building was well alight and we had four crews,” he said.

“We had a total of 16 men, two pumping appliances and two specialist appliances, one aerial appliance, to attack the blaze.”.

He told BBC Radio Ulster: “The building was substantially damaged.”