The scene this morning and firefighters tackling the blaze at Ryde Castle Hotel last night. Pictures by, left, Lorraine Parker and right, James Foreman.
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UPDATED 08.44*
A FIRE broke out at the Ryde Castle Hotel last night (Saturday) and part of the building collapsed.
Crews from across the Isle of Wight were called to the 18-room hotel at around 10pm.
Shortly before 1am fire control staff told the County Press six fire engines and around 50 fire and rescue service personnel were on scene tackling the blaze.
The fire had been contained to a central part of the roof space, according to fire control, however a central part of the building collapsed during the night.
No-one was injured in the collapse, but at 01.25 fire control said all firefighters had been withdrawn from the building and were fighting the fire from the outside only. Structural engineers had been called to the scene.
Earlier in the night flames were seen pouring out of the back of the building according to witnesses, and there were reports smoke from the fire could be seen from Bembridge.
Speaking at the scene police inspector Terry Clawson told the County Press the fire had started after a firework display at a wedding party.
The wedding party of around 60 guests was safely evacuated, along with all hotel staff and other guests. No-one is thought to have been injured.
Some of the guests are being housed at a nearby church.
Ryde Esplanade has been closed to traffic and diversions along The Strand and East Street are in place.
*At 08.30 today (Sunday) fire control said the blaze was well under control, however firefighters were still unable to go back into the building due to concerns about the structure's stability, following an assessment at 07.13.
There were three fire engines, plus a control unit on site and firefighters were using two aerial ladders to dampen the fire from above.
No-one has been injured during the incident.
The fire at the Ryde Castle Hotel. Video by Mia Flinton.
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Ryde Castle Hotel fire. Video by Lorraine Parker.
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| Pictures by CP photographer Robin Crossley. |