North West tourists at fire hotel

Firecrews had to withdraw when part of the hotel collapsed
Holidaymakers from north-west England were staying at a Cornish hotel severely damaged by a fire in which one person died and four were injured.

Two coaches from Lancashire-based tour operators Robinsons Holidays had taken tourists from Merseyside, Lancashire and Cheshire to the Penhallow Hotel.

A total of 86 people from the holiday firm were at the Newquay hotel when fire broke out at around midnight.

Police are concerned about six people still unaccounted for after the fire.

The hotel was close to capacity when the fire broke out with the guests, three members of staff and a coach driver in the building.

Jumped to safety

Some residents were forced to jump to safety as the blaze swept through the hotel causing parts of the structure to later collapse.

Investigators have not ruled out the possibility that some of the missing may be inside.

The holidaymakers were coming to the end of their stay.

Your photos: Hotel blaze

Guests offered refuge

Eyewitness describes blaze

One coach was due to bring passengers home on Saturday and the other on Sunday.

John Major, a spokesman for the Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT), the trade association for the coach, bus and light railway industry, confirmed that the majority of hotel guests had come from the North West.

"The majority of guests were on a coach holiday and were from Lancashire, north Cheshire and Merseyside, along with a few guests from Yorkshire."

The Penhallow is owned by Holdsworth Hotels and used regularly by Robinsons Holidays, a family-run tour operator.

Both firms are owned by the same parent company, O&C Holdsworth.

Smoke detectors

A spokesman for Robinsons said: "We do know that there were at least 86 people in the hotel who were with a Robinsons coach holiday.

"They are part of the same group that owns the hotel and they do cater for the more mature passenger, largely from the North and North West of England."

HOTEL FIRE HELPLINES

• The police information line number is 0800 056 0154
• The hotel firm has also set up a helpline for anyone who is concerned about a friend or relative on 01254 889 900

A total of 14 appliances were sent to the hotel after the fire service was called at 0015 BST - along with 120 firefighters.

Three neighbouring buildings, also described as hotels, were evacuated as a precaution.

The hotel's owners said smoke detectors and fire doors had been checked two weeks ago.

RELATED INTERNET LINKS
Holdsworth Hotels
Devon and Cornwall Police
Cornwall County Council
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