Huge blaze wrecks disused hotel

Fire engulfed the disused hotel in the early hours of the morning

A disused hotel in West Sussex has been left badly damaged after a huge fire engulfed the two-storey building.

More than 50 firefighters tackled the blaze at the Cranfield Lodge Hotel, in Maypole Road, East Grinstead.

No one was inside the building. Fire crews were pulled back from the blaze when the roof collapsed and it was judged too dangerous to continue.

West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service said the cause of the fire was being investigated. Arson was not ruled out.

Firefighters were called to the scene at 2300 GMT on Monday.

Embers danger

The first crews to arrive said they were faced with thick smoke coming from the building, but there was no obvious sign as to where the fire had started.

Shortly afterwards the fire broke out through the roof, which then collapsed and the fire quickly spread to the ground floor.

Neighbour Tristan Jones said his wife took their children to the hospital where she worked for safety.

"With the wind coming across the property, embers were falling on to our house as well, which the fire service decided to damp down," he said.

"It was very dangerous at its height."

Demolition work on the remains of the hotel was started on Tuesday afternoon.