Service held for hotel fire dead

Four people were arrested in connection with the blaze

A church service has been held in memory of the victims of one of Britain's worst hotel fires.

Three people died in the blaze that swept through the Penhallow Hotel in Newquay, Cornwall on 18 August 2007.

The victims were Joan Harper, 80, from Stoke-on-Trent, Peter Hughes, 43, from Cheslyn Hay, Staffordshire, and his mother Monica, 86.

Reverend Chris McQuillan Wright led the service at St Columb Minor Church in Newquay.

Over one hundred firefighters fought the blaze which started just after midnight.

Evidence destroyed

About 90 people managed to escape from the hotel.

A murder inquiry was launched in January when a police investigation concluded the fire was started deliberately.

Four people have been arrested and questioned, but the fire destroyed much of the evidence.

Senior detectives and lawyers will meet later this month to decide whether any charges should be brought.