Police are investigating a suspicious fire at a Newcastle pub last night.
Emergency services were called to a hotel on Elder Street at Lambton just before 5am, after reports part of the building was alight.
A neighbour put out the fire before firefighters arrived, with minimal damage to the building.
Fire crews were able to fully extinguish the flames, and police extinguished a small grass fire nearby in Lambton Park.
Police set up a crime scene, which is being forensically examined.
They were told three men were seen running from the scene.
The blaze is being treated as suspicious and police are urging anyone at the time of the incident to come forward.
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