Firefighters battle to bring major blaze at former hotel under control

Firefighters at the blaze at former Southlands Hotel in Sheringham. Picture: Ian Roper (Image: Archant)

Six fire crews, as well as a turntable ladder and water carrier, were called to the Southlands Hotel on South Street just after 1.10am on Wednesday morning.

The fire at the former Southlands Hotel in Sheringham. Picture: Ian Roper (Image: Archant)

They used hose reel jets to extinguish the fire, and crews are still on scene.

North Norfolk District Council chairman Richard Shepherd, who is councillor for Sheringham South, said:

'It's a shock. It was once a really family-owned hotel.

'It has been up for sale for some time but to no avail as it needed quite a lot of work doing to make it the hotel it once was.

'It was hugely popular in Sheringham. I shall be very curious as to the cause.'

Sheringham town councillor Liz Withington, said: 'I cant say from council perspective but as an individual - it's a very sad day for Sheringham.

'There is a lot of history in that hotel; weddings, funerals, all sorts of things were held there and it was very much part of the social history of the town.

'It was also a very attractive building so it is a huge loss to the town architecturally as well.

'I think it closed due to larger hotel chains moving in and it was also largely frequented by older people.

'It was extremely well run and a part of the community.'

A spokesman for Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service said that at the height of blaze there were 12 vehicles on site and more than 60 firefighters.

That number has now been reduced to six vehicles and fire crews are searching for the remaining hotspots to fully extinguish the fire.

Norfolk Police confirmed that investigations into the cause of the fire are beginning this morning.

East of England Ambulance Service confirmed that they had not attended the incident and no injuries have been reported.

Updates to follow.