Historic Devon hotel collapses after huge fire

A hotel in Exeter has begun to collapse following a fire that burned through the night.

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The historic Royal Clarence, which is believed to be England's oldest hotel, started to fall away 24 hours after the fire broke out.

According to the BBC, the fire began on Cathedral Green and spread to the hotel, which dates back to 1769.

Police are using a drone to access the building's structure and engineers told the BBC that the facade is expected to continue crumbling.

A Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service spokesperson told the Guardian: "Crews have confirmed that a gas main has ruptured inside the hotel on the ground floor, which is now well alight.

"Gas engineers are on site trying to isolate the gas supply. Crews are currently using four jets from four aerial platforms."

Firefighters are still tackling the blaze and there have been no reported injuries.