Nearby residents had to be evacuated as firefighters fought to bring a fire at a derelict hotel in Newquay under control on Wednesday.

The fire is believed to have been an arson attack

The crews were called out to fight the flames at the four storey building at Mount Wise, Newquay yesterday afternoon.

Six pumping appliances, an aerial ladder platform and ancillary vehicles were initially called to the scene just after 4.30pm, with firefighters wearing breathing apparatus using four main jets to extinguish the fire.

By 8.30pm there were nine appliances tackling the fire and steady progress was made.

A fire service spokesman said that some nearby residents had to be evacuated to a respite centre for shelter and care by the Red Cross.

This incident was scaled back by 11.45pm, with some crews remaining on scene damping down hotspots using jets and breathing apparatus

This morning at 8am there were still three major appliances, a Landover and an Ariel ladder platform and a total of 20 firefighters remaining at the scene, with the ariel ladder platform damping down hot spots.

The spokesman added: "It is currently being arranger for a surveyor from the Council to attend to assess the buildings structure. It is expected that if the building is deemed as being structurally ‘safe’ then later this morning a fire investigation will be carried out."