Suspected arson attack at derelict island hotel

Firefighters from four stations were called to the former hotel on the corner of Carter Street and Broadway

A fire which broke out at a derelict hotel by the sea is thought to have been started deliberately, a fire service has said.

Firefighters were called to the Cygnet Hotel in Sandown on the Isle of Wight, after smoke was spotted coming from the building shortly before 00:30 BST.

Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire & Rescue said the ground-floor fire had been reported to police.

The fire service said crews left the scene at about 02:30.

The hotel at the seaside resort has been closed for a number of years

Numerous fires have previously broken out in derelict hotels at the seaside resort.

In July 2022, and more recently in February, fires broke out at the former Parkbury Hotel.

In May 2021 a blaze tore through Sandown's derelict Ocean Hotel and there was a fire at the former Grand Hotel in January 2022.

The Royal Cliff Hotel was also destroyed in a suspected arson attack in 2014.