Woman breaks spine leaping from flames

A woman broke her spine and pelvis jumping from the building

A woman has broken her spine and pelvis and a man has broken his ankle, after jumping from the window of a burning derelict hotel.

Dorset Police say the former East Cliff Manor Hotel, in Manor Road, Bournemouth, was being used as a squat when the flames broke out.

The 32-year-old woman and 24-year-old man jumped from the top floor of the building as the fire took hold at 2300 BST on Wednesday.

They were both rushed to Poole hospital for treatment.

Ourselves and the police have been to the building this week and asked the people to leave Bournemouth Borough Council

Five other people were rescued from the building by fire crews.

A spokeswoman from Bournemouth Borough Council said: "There have been the odd occasion when reports have been received about people being in and around the building, but there hasn't been a long-term problem of people being in residence there.

"The owners of the building have worked with the Council and the police and secured it well, with the driveway being blocked off, and secure boarding on access points.

"We received reports that there may have been people in the building on Monday evening. Ourselves and the police have been to the building this week and asked the people to leave."

Investigators from Dorset Police and Dorset Fire and Rescue Service are currently carrying out forensic tests into how the fire started but it is not thought to be suspicious.