Firefighters have been battling a blaze at a prominent 200-year-old hotel on Brighton seafront.

A total of 15 fire engines were sent to the scene at the Royal Albion Hotel – which overlooks Brighton Pier – on Saturday.

But firefighters were hampered in their efforts because of high winds.

A Met Office yellow weather warning was in place across Saturday due to high winds in large parts of England, and in South Wales.

At 5am on Sunday, the fire service said it was “scaling back operations”.

However, six appliances and two aerial ladder platforms remain on the scene.

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Councillor Bella Sankey, leader of the city council, said: “These are very sad scenes in our city.

“On behalf of the city council I want to give my thanks to the emergency services for attending the fire at the historic Royal Albion Hotel in the heart of our city.”

The 219-bedroom regency-style hotel was built in 1826.

Part of the building was Grade II* listed by English Heritage and suffered a previous fire in November 1998.

It is currently run by Britannia Hotels, the owner of Pontins.

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