Firefighters are battling to save what is believed to be one of Britain’s oldest hotels, which is threatened by an out-of-control fire that has already destroyed neighbouring buildings. Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Exeter fire rips through 'oldest hotel in England'

A fire in Exeter has destroyed historic buildings including what is described as the oldest hotel in England. Although Devon and Somerset fire and rescue service said that “steady progress is being made”, no end to the blaze appears to be in sight. That has been completely destroyed, but the fire has spread across the roof void to the roof of the Royal Clarence hotel, which is quite an old, famous landmark in Exeter. Analysis: Historian Dr Todd Gray

Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Destruction of the fire-ravaged Royal Clarence Hotel in Exeter would be a great tragedy because of its medieval past says a historian

Cathedral Green was the medieval hub of the city. Image caption BBC reporter Simon Hall took this image and said the fire is visible from all around the city

Hotel guest Lucy, from Australia, told Radio Devon: "I was woken up by the fire alarm at five o'clock. Before that happened [in the 1770s] we had inns, but they took the new French word and applied it to their building … this was the place to stay.”

He added: “What is so particularly heartbreaking about this loss is that these buildings escaped the blitz of 1942 when so much of Exeter was destroyed.”

Efforts to fight the fire were consuming much of Exeter’s water supply. South West Water has asked city centre residents to restrict water use and promised to supply bottled water for people struggling to get water from taps. “The Royal Devon and Exeter and Nuffield hospitals will not be affected.”

The cause of the fire was not believed to be suspicious.
A fire destroys the historic Royal Clarence Hotel in Exeter, Devon, which is described as the oldest hotel in England.