Hotel fire in pictures: Flames destroy historical Exeter buildings

Structural engineers are carrying out site inspections at the Royal Clarence Hotel

Demolition work on buildings devastated by a fire that ripped through the historical heart of Exeter is expected to start this week.

The blaze consumed buildings on the city's Cathedral Green, including what is described as England's oldest hotel - the Royal Clarence.

The blaze began at about 05:00 BST on Friday.

Engineers are assessing the site and crews continue to spray water on to the shell of the building.

Latest on the Exeter fire, and more Devon and Cornwall news

These pictures tell the story of how the fire spread:

The blaze is understood to have started about 05:00 BST on Friday in the Castle Fine Art gallery

The fire took hold and guests including Nick Groom (who took this picture) and his wife were evacuated from the Royal Clarence Hotel further along Cathedral Green

More than 150 firefighters from across Devon and Somerset were sent to tackle the blaze

The fire spread next door to the building containing the Well House Tavern

Firefighters believed they had the fire under control but it then spread to the Royal Clarence Hotel on Friday

At about 16:00 BST on Friday a police drone captured images from above to assess the devastation

The front of the Royal Clarence Hotel started to collapse in the early hours of Saturday

On Saturday morning a thermal imaging camera was used to measure the temperature of debris within the shell of the hotel

Only the shell of the building now remains

Crews continue to dampen down the site

The Royal Clarence Hotel before and after the blaze