Derelict hotel fire where Hendrix stayed suspicious

The fire was on the first, second, and third floors of the former hotel, the fire service said

A fire at a derelict hotel on the Isle of Wight where Jimi Hendrix once stayed is being treated as suspicious, police say.

The fire at the former Esplanade Hotel in Sandown High Street broke out on Sunday at about 04:00 BST. Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire & Rescue Service said the fire was on the first, second, and third floors of the building.

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary said the cause of the fire was being "treated as suspicious" and an investigation was underway.

Hendrix spent the night at the hotel in 1970 - then the Seagrove Hotel - the night before performing at the Isle of Wight Festival.

The fire service said crews from four stations on the island tackled the fire - it was out just after 06:30.

The seaside hotel's owners who have planning permission to turn it into apartments were given six months to get the derelict building back into a decent state by the council in January.

The building used to be the Seagrove Hotel and in 1970 Jimi Hendrix stayed there, the night before his Isle of Wight Festival set.