One of Yarmouth's oldest hotels was deliberately flooded and damaged in an arson attack yesterday.

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Emailed pics of fire

One of Yarmouth's oldest hotels was deliberately flooded and damaged in an arson attack yesterday.

A first floor corridor of the Two Bears Hotel, which closed earlier this year, was badly charred by the fire.

Intruders also turned taps on in upstairs rooms, causing water from overflowing baths and sinks to soak through the ceiling into the ground floor bar and restaurant area .

Fire crews had the blaze at the Victorian coaching inn, which started about 1.30pm, under control within 10 minutes.

Watch manager Matthew Clutten said: “The arsonists broke in and set a mattress alight just inside a fire door at the rear of the building.

“It spread along the walls to a nearby pile of rubbish; another small fire was also started in a first floor room.”

A passer by, who did not wish to be named, said he called the emergency services after noticing smoke and flames billowing from the roof of the building in Pasteur Road. He also claimed to have seen two boys running from the hotel car park minutes later.

The Two Bears, which dates from 1871, has been put up for sale by owners Great Yarmouth Properties.