Second fire in days at derelict seafront hotel

The fire service said the blaze was found on the third floor of the former hotel

A fire has broken out at a derelict seafront hotel on the Isle of Wight for the second time in a week.

Firefighters from three stations across the island were called to the Ocean Hotel on the High Street, Sandown, on Thursday at about 20:00 BST.

The blaze, found by crews on the third floor, was believed to have been set deliberately, the fire service said.

A fire at the hotel on Monday saw four crews sent at about 19:00.

The fire is thought to have been set deliberately, the fire service says

Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire & Rescue Service said nobody was found inside the property at the time of Thursday's fire.

The owners of the hotel have previously been handed tidy-up enforcement orders by the local council and police.

In May 2021 a large blaze, involving all four floors of the building, destroyed part of the abandoned hotel.

The derelict hotel has fallen into a state of disrepair

There have been numerous fires at derelict hotels at the island's seaside resorts.

In June, two fires in a week broke out at the Cygnet Hotel in Sandown.

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

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.