Blaze tears through South Tyneside hotel

It has been reported that a fire has badly damaged a hotel in Boldon, South Tyneside.

Up to 35 firefighters were required at the Quality Hotel in Witney Way, Boldon Colliery, just before 11am on the 22nd November with the fire having started in the sauna area.

The fire crews extinguished the flames within three to four hours and it was confirmed that everybody in the hotel at the time of the fire managed to escape safely.

There was however one injury reported, although it was not life-threatening, with one woman taken to hospital.

Due to the blaze a number of roads in the area were affected by drifting smoke and so Northumbria Police warned motorists to be very careful when driving close to the hotel.

The district manager for Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service, John Allison, confirmed that the fire originated in the sauna room and that firefighters prevented it spreading to the bedrooms in the hotel.

The reception area, function room and health spa suffered substantial damage in the huge fire.

The precise cause of the fire is not yet known at this stage although an investigation is currently underway by the fire and rescue service.