Seaside hotel hit by serious fire

The fire took hold of the third and fourth floors

Firefighters are damping down after a blaze destroyed a disused hotel at a seaside resort in Pembrokeshire.

The five-storey Royal Gate House hotel on Tenby seafront has been left unsafe after it was engulfed by flames at about 2300 GMT on Saturday.

The 59-room hotel was empty but residents in flats and at a nearby hotel were moved to safety.

Fire chiefs said the "serious fire" spread to a tanning studio and had threatened a nearby cinema.

On Sunday afternoon, crews were still damping down the hot spots using ground monitors.

Roads remained closed in the town centre.

The roof of the hotel partially collapsed and Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service said its crews were stopped from entering the building because its structure was unsafe.

No-one was injured but 40 people were moved by Dyfed-Powys Police from the Royal Lion Hotel and nearby flats.

The hotel guests were allowed to return on Sunday but residents from the flats were given temporary shelter in a hotel.

The front of the damaged hotel, from the seafront

Assistant chief fire officer Phil Bailey said earlier: "Fire crews are currently involved in creating a fire break to try and prevent the fire from spreading to adjoining properties in the area."

He said firefighting conditions had been difficult due to the unsafe structure of the building and the "close proximity of other properties".

The fire spread to a tanning studio next door and for a time threatened a local cinema.

Cause

Ten fire engines from as far afield as Port Talbot, Swansea and Carmarthen worked through the night to bring the blaze under control.

Twelve crews remained at the scene on Sunday afternoon.

Divisional fire commander Nick Webley said "They have carried out some fantastic work in very difficult conditions."

The fire took hold in the third and fourth floors of the building in White Lion Street, as well as destroying the roof.

Firefighters continue at the scene on Sunday. Photo: Tony Smiles

A fire service spokesperson said the fire had been "surrounded" at 0900 but a crew had to extinguish a fire in the lobby at 1200.

The building is structurally unsound amid fears of further collapse, after the front wall was lost.

An initial survey has been carried out by Pembrokeshire County Council but the building has been too dangerous for an engineer to look inside.

Local councillor Mike Evans said the town remained open for business, but he appealed for visitors to park their cars on the outskirts, as road closures remained in place.

Police have had to draft in extra officers to deal with the large crowds of people who gathered to watch the fire.

Insp Alan Millichip said it was too early to speculate on the cause of the fire but said a joint investigation would begin when the building was secured.