No charges over fatal hotel fire

The blaze completely destroyed the 54-bedroom hotel

No-one is to be prosecuted over a fatal hotel fire in Cornwall last year.

Three people died when the fire broke out at the Penhallow Hotel in Newquay on 18 August.

The Crown Prosecution Service's Complex Case Unit said there was insufficient evidence to charge anyone in connection with the blaze.

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

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

Today especially our thoughts are with the families of Peter and Monica Hughes and Joan Harper Det Ch Insp Darren Lockley, Senior Investigating Officer

Four people, who were arrested and questioned in connection with the fire, have now been released from police bail.

Ann Reddrop, head of the Complex Case Unit, said the investigation had been a complex and detailed one.

"After looking at all the evidence and considering Mr Edmunds' advice, I have decided there is insufficient evidence to charge any person with an offence relating either to the fire or the tragic deaths of three people who were staying in the hotel at the time," she said.

However, Ms Reddrop said the matter would be re-considered by the CPS should any fresh evidence come to light in the future.

More than 100 firefighters fought the Penhallow blaze, which started just after midnight.

In January police said the fire was started deliberately

Two coaches from Lancashire-based tour operators Robinsons Holidays had taken tourists from north-west England to spend a week at the hotel when the fire broke out.

About 90 people managed to escape from the 54-bedroom hotel.

Following the CPS decision, Det Ch Insp Darren Lockley, from Devon and Cornwall Police said the inquiry remained open.

"We remain committed to investigate any information that comes to our notice," he said.

"Today especially our thoughts are with the families of Peter and Monica Hughes and Joan Harper.

"They are still trying to come to terms with the loss of their loved ones, but this will always be difficult without knowing exactly why this tragedy happened."

Mr Lockley said the investigation, which included the collation of 3,500 documents and up to 1,000 statements, had been "thorough and meticulous".