Six people have been injured after a major blaze badly damaged a seafront hotel in Eastbourne.
Firefighters battled for several hours to stop the spread of flames which tore through the Claremont hotel on Friday morning.
East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service said “everyone was safely evacuated” but six people suffered minor injuries. One was taken to hospital with breathing difficulties.
Dramatic footage showed flames raging on every floor of the Victorian hotel, which is close to the town’s historic pier.
Twelve fire engines were sent to tackle the blaze, as well as specialist vehicles including aerial ladder platforms and a high volume pump. Crews pumped water from the sea and fought against strong winds to contain the flames.
The fire service urged people to avoid the area and warned residents of nearby homes to keep keep doors and windows closed as thick smoke rises from the building.
Assistant chief fire officer Mark Andrews said: “This is a very serious incident and the fire took hold very quickly.
“The swift actions of the hotel staff meant everyone got out of the hotel safely, and we thank them for their efforts.”
He added: ““The fire spread from the basement through to the upper floors. The wind also caused some additional challenges and we needed to take water from the sea.
“We will now work to ensure that the fire is completely put out. This will take several hours and so the roads in the area are likely to remain closed for the foreseeable future.”
The fire service said it was called just 8.50am.
At the height of the fire, twelve fire engines were tackling the fire, along with a number of specialist vehicles including aerial ladder platforms and a high volume pump.
Roads in the area have been closed and power supplies have been isolated.
The cause of the fire is not yet known.
