Fire crews were called to the scene just before 6am after a local shop owner noticed the blaze.

Eugowra supermarket owner and volunteer fire fighter Danny Townsend said he noticed the fire around 5.40am when he was opening his shop across the road.

The first fire crews arrived on scene around 5.45am with a second truck arriving at 5.50am, however Mr Townsend told the Forbes Advocate the crews were too late.

Police remain at the scene of the fire and are urging people to avoid Broad Street with traffic diversions in place at North and Bowler Street.

Investigations are continuing.

The pub was built around 1927 and renamed the Fat Lamb in 1958.

The local icon was in a prominent position in the town and sponsored several local sporting clubs.

For more details and police reports see tomorrow’s Forbes Advocate.