Fire causes country house damage

The roof and first floors were engulfed in flames

Firefighters in north Cornwall spent the night damping down a fire at a country house.

The building, at Lambley Park in Week St Mary, was being renovated to open as a hotel.

It took 45 firefighters from stations at Bude, Holsworthy, Launceston and Delabole to put out the flames after being alerted at 1525 BST on Tuesday.

The building was empty for renovation when the fire started. No-one was injured during the incident.

Renovation finish

The roof and first floors of the seven-bedroomed two-storey house, which was built around 1894, were said to be "totally engulfed" in flames, the fire brigade said.

Owner Alan Middleton said: "We're devastated. We were very close to finishing a lot of the external work that we've been undertaking.

"It's just horrific to see your own house go up in flames."

"We don't know when we'll get back on track. It could take up to nine months."

Bodmin fire station officer Pete Robinson said: "It's a picture of devastation. The roof is totally gone and the first floor has fallen through to the ground floor.

"We haven't saved the building."

Owners Alan and Andrea Middleton have said they intend to finish the renovation.

An investigation has been launched to identify the cause of the fire.