Body found at blaze hotel in Harrogate

A body has been found at the scene of a fire which broke out at the four-star, 170-bedroom Majestic hotel in Harrogate early this morning.

The body was found on the fifth floor of the hotel, which is operated by Barceló Hotels UK.

"At this stage we are unable to confirm the identity and whether or not it is the member of staff who remained unaccounted for," said a spokesperson for North Yorkshire Police.

"We will not be in position to release their name until formal identity has been carried out."

Police and North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service remain at the scene and will be carrying out an investigation to establish the cause and circumstances of the fire, which is believed to have started in a bedroom on the fifth floor.

A spokesperson for Barcelo Hotels UK said: "It is with great sadness that we confirm a body has been discovered in the Barcelo Harrogate Majestic Hotel. We are waiting for more information from the emergency services on the scene.

"The alarm was raised at 5am this morning and the hotel was immediately evacuated to the nearby Cairn Hotel. All guests are safely accounted for. However, it is still too early to comment on a cause for the fire but an investigation will commence as soon as practicably possible."

The emergency services evacuated 130 guests and around 25 staff after they were called to the listed Victorian building at just before 5am.

Guests are now being allowed back into the hotel to retrieve their belongings under controlled conditions.

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By Janet Harmer

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