A serious fire has destroyed a family-run hotel in the centre of Blackpool.
The fire was believed to have started in the laundry room at the Astoria Hotel on Albert Road, at about 18:15 GMT on Sunday, 20th January.
Neighbouring properties were evacuated and Albert Road was closed as 75 firefighters dealt with the blaze.
Lancashire Fire Service said no-one was thought to have been injured, but a dog is believed to have died. A spokesman said there were concerns over guests trapped inside and a gas cylinder at the top of the five-storey building.
Sixteen firefighters wearing breathing apparatus entered the building to check all the rooms before moving to the top of the building to remove a potentially hazardous propane cylinder as the flames rose through the hotel through central heating vents.
David Bent, area manager for Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service, said: “The fire had spread through vents making it difficult to know the location of the source. There was extremely poor visibility, high levels of smoke and high temperatures inside.”
Incident Commander, Ben Norman, said “The fire had spread down into the basement and through the first and second floors. Some of the rooms were severely damaged and all were smoke logged. Sadly a dog was in the hotel and has perished.”
A total of 14 fire engines, including two each from Blackpool, Fleetwood, St Annes and Blackburn fire stations and one each from South Shore, Bispham, Wesham, Lytham, Preesall, Bamber Bridge and Penwortham, attended the scene.