Claire Jones
BBC News Online

Lee Howell, Chief Fire Officer, said: "I want to say how grateful we are for local businesses and people bringing out cups of tea and making sure everyone is OK.

"This is a very serious fire. It is ongoing, we're making progress but it is complicated. 

"We are dealing with very old and historical buildings, new building's don't operate in the same way.

"There's a high likelihood of heat transfer to adjacent buildings. Appliances have been using foam and water spray. We are making good progress."

Image source, HaiwenJ

Devon and Cornwall Police Deputy Chief Constable Bill Skelly, the incident Gold Commander, said: "Devon and Cornwall Police are supporting the fire service in their efforts on what is a sad day for Exeter and the whole of Devon as a county.

"We will do our best to return Exeter to normal and deal with the fire in the most effective manner."

Due to the seriousness of the fire it is likely road closures in Exeter will remain in place throughout the evening and overnight, police have said.

There are further cordons on the cathedral side of Cathedral Green on the approach from Southernhay on the Cathedral Close footpath and also near to the cathedral gardens. 

Cathedral Green will remain cordoned off and not accessible to the public while the fire service completes its work.

It is not known at this time how the fire started. No injuries reported.

Hamish Marshall
BBC Spotlight

Matt Woodley
BBC Radio Devon

Floors in a fire-hit hotel in Exeter have collapsed, Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service's Chief Fire Officer Lee Howell has told BBC News.

He said "trapped pockets of fire" will continue until the "fuel is extinguished".

"We're making good progress, but we will be here for some time."

Simon Hall, Home Affairs Correspondent
BBC Spotlight

The BBC understands renovation work at the art gallery where the fire started is being investigated as a possible cause of the blaze.

Claire Jones
BBC News Online

The statement from South West Water reads, external: "South West Water is appealing to customers in the city centre and Wonford areas of Exeter to temporarily restrict their water use as much as possible.

"This is to help make as much water available as possible to the fire service, which is currently tackling a major fire in Exeter city centre.

"Some customers in the city centre and potentially in the Wonford area may experience low pressure or discoloration of their water supply.

"The Royal Devon & Exeter and Nuffield hospitals will not be affected."

Simon Hall, Home Affairs Correspondent
BBC Spotlight

Chris Ellis
BBC News Online

• The Royal Clarence Hotel in Exeter is still on fire
• A major incident has been declared and all emergency services including more than 100 firefighters are at the scene at Cathedral Green
• The fire started early this morning at the Castle Fine Art gallery and then spread to the hotel which was evacuated
• The art gallery has been destroyed
• Firefighters say they're doing all they can to stop the flames spreading to other buildings in the city
• Water has been collected from the River Exe by fire crews
• Chief fire officer says 'buildings are irreplaceable' 
• Most of roads in the city centre are closed

Simon Hall, Home Affairs Correspondent
BBC Spotlight

A very rare, and very sad sight. 

Exeter Cathedral has also been closed as work to fight the major fire in the city centre goes on.  

The Guardian, external: Exeter fire threatens one of Britain's oldest hotels

The Sun, external: Firefighters battling to save Britain’s oldest hotel after blaze tears through 250-year-old building  

Express and Echo, external: Exeter business offers help to those affected by devastating city centre fire

Kirk England
BBC Radio Devon

I've come into South Street to get a different perspective. There is a real risk this could spread. 

The area is totally closed to vehicles, we're surrounded by fire engines and there are lots of people here.

They need to use a lot of water. Businesses are being advised to close to save the water and residents have been told to expect low pressure or no water pressure.

There's only one thing anyone can talk about.

Right now I can see an enormous red hose pipe being dragged across the green. They're trying to access more water to get hold of the fire.

The smoke is still billowing out.

Claire Jones
BBC News Online

Claire Jones
BBC News Online

A historian has described the site of the fire in Exeter as the "medieval hub of the city" and the "business hub of the city from the 15th to 18th centuries".

Dr Todd Gray said: "This is where all the trade took place, this is where you did your business deals.

"It was the fine centre where gentlemen would rent rooms all year just to have a presence in Exeter.

"It’s the heart of the city really."

Hamish Marshall
BBC Spotlight

A large pump is being brought in to bring water from the River Exe to fight the fire at The Royal Clarence Hotel.  

BBC Radio Devon

BBC Radio Devon

Firefighters says they're doing all they can to stop a huge fire in the centre of Exeter spreading.

A major incident has been declared and all emergency services including more than 100 firefighters are at the scene at the Royal Clarence Hotel at Cathedral Green.

The fire started early this morning at the Castle Fine Art gallery but then spread. 

Claire Jones
BBC News Online

Lee Howell, Chief Fire Officer, said: "This is a very serious fire for us, we have 20 appliances.

"There was a severe fire this morning, in a gallery, four floors have collapsed on top of each other, the fire then spread on to the roof.

"We're doing all we can to stop it from spreading.

"We are concerned about the building next to the Royal Clarence.

"The safety of firefighters is paramount. We've got a lot of resources here, sometimes we just need to be patient to allow the strategy to work. 

"Some of these buildings are irreplaceable. We have businesses that want to open tomorrow and we'll do all we can for them."