Great Yarmouth hotel fire: No one injured in the blaze

Firefighters worked throughout the night tackling the blaze at the former Victory Hotel building on Nelson Road South following a 999 call shortly before 12.30am this morning.

Broken glass on the ground and scorch marks were visible on the white walls of the run down property as fire crews continued to damp down the property well into the morning.

Fire crews tackled the fire at the Victory Hotel in Nelson Road South early Thursday morning. (Image: Kenneth Stretton) (Image: Kenneth Stretton)

Great Yarmouth Fire Station manager Stuart Herd said: "It was a well-developed fire involved in most of the building and had spread to the roof.

"It was too difficult a fire to maintain from the inside.

"There is significant damage internally, and floors have collapsed.

"The roof at the rear has also collapsed on itself."

A firefighter damping down the fire inside the Victory Hotel on Nelson Road South. Picture - James Weeds (Image: James Weeds)

Mr Herd said the Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service were waiting to investigate and the cause of the fire is unknown.

Mr Herd said he expected fire crews will remain at the property until at least noon on Friday. 

Significant damage has been caused to the roof of the Victory Hotel following a fire. Picture - James Weeds (Image: James Weeds)

A spokesperson for Norfolk County Council confirmed there were no injuries or casualties as a result of the fire.

Residents of a neighbouring property had to evacuate due to the fire's spread.

One neighbouring property of the Victory Hotel on Nelson Road South had to be evacuated following the fire. Three doors down at The Chequers guesthouse, the owner evacuated with residents after their fire alarm went off. Picture - James Weeds (Image: James Weeds)

Three doors down at The Chequers guesthouse, owner Alistair Mitchell said he evacuated his property along with 11 guests at around 3am after the guesthouse's fire alarm sounded.

"The smoke had travelled through the lofts and set out fire alarms off," Mr Mitchell said.

"I originally woke at 1am because of all the noise. I went outside and saw all the smoke.

"It was scary."

Alistair Mitchell, owner of The Chequers guesthouse on Nelson Road South. Picture - James Weeds (Image: James Weeds)

Mr Mitchell said it was a shame the Victory Hotel had been "left to rot".

"Hopefully, something positive can be done with it," he added.

Firefighters assessing the damage at the rear of the Victory Hotel on Nelson Road South. The rear roof is said to have collapsed as a result of the fire. Picture - James Weeds (Image: James Weeds)

Joana Prates, who lives behind the gutted Victory Hotel, said the noise of firefighters tackling the blaze only metres from her back garden woke her sometime around 2am.

"All the commotion was really scary to see," she said.

A firefighter searching for hotspots on an aerial platform following the fire at the derelict Victory Hotel on Nelson Road South. Picture - James Weeds (Image: James Weeds)

The fire inside the derelict Victory Hotel on Nelson Road South has caused significant damage. Picture - James Weeds (Image: James Weeds)