Remains found at hotel fire site

A team of 20 people is searching through the rubble of the hotel

Human remains have been found by teams searching the rubble of a Cornish hotel destroyed by a fire.

One man died in the blaze at the Penhallow Hotel in Newquay on Saturday. Police believe two others still missing also perished.

The search continues for further remains but the families of both missing people have been informed.

A police spokesman said the fire was being treated as a major crime until "evidence to the contrary".

The two people still missing are aged in their 70s and 80s.

Inquest to open

A team of 20 people is searching through the rubble of the hotel and scaffolding with screens has been erected to enable the investigation to take place out of public view.

Police said the search could take more than two weeks.

Truro coroner Dr Emma Carlyon will open and adjourn an inquest on Wednesday into the death of the 43-year-old victim of the fire. His name will not be released until then.

Police believe he died when he fell from a second-floor window.

More than 80 people safely escaped from the building.

Police timeline

Four people taken to the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro are said to be improving. One is in a critical but stable condition and three are said to be in a stable condition.

A Devon and Cornwall Police helpline has handled more than 600 calls from people inquiring about casualties.

Det Ch Insp Darren Lockley, senior investigating officer, said police and fire investigators were trying to establish a timeline of movement for individuals who visited the hotel and also the escalation of the fire.

Cornwall County Council is to review fire cover across the county as a result of the blaze.