Britain's oldest hotel goes up in flames

A dramatic video has been released showing terrified guests fleeing the Royal Clarence Hotel in their nightgowns after a fire hit the building and burning embers rained down from the night sky.

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The scary moment the historic Exeter hotel was evacuated on October 28th was captured on CCTV pictures from Cathedral Yard and released by the council on the six-month anniversary of the blaze.

According to Devon Live, the fire broke out above Castle Fine Art gallery where renovations were taking place.

The alarm was raised at around 5.10am and guests at the hotel were evacuated before firefighters arrived.

Fifteen fire crews were sent to the scene but the property was destroyed and thick smoke was visible for miles.

The Caterer reports that the hotel will be rebuilt while retaining the remaining elements of the Grade II-listed building.

Stephanie Hocking, chief executive of Andrew Brownsword Hotels, which owns Royal Clarence Hotel, said: "As such a significant historic building, we are pleased to be entering the rebuild phase and look forward to delivering a hotel the city can once again be proud of."