It is unclear when the resort will re-open

Anyone who has booked a break at the resort would be refunded, offered alternative accommodation at other UK Center Parcs or given the chance to book at a later date.

Fire crews worked through the night to contain smaller fires which had broken out and one crew will stay a second night to make sure no fires flair up from hot spots.

Graham Smith, Acting Assistant Chief Fire Officer of Suffolk Fire Service, said: "The situation will be reviewed in the morning.

"The difficulty is the investigators cannot get on to the site of the fire until it is safe.

"There are still several hot spots so it is possible small fires could break out."

Crews were first called at 1000 BST on Thursday to a fire in the roof.

Cost of damage

The Center Parcs spokeswoman said: "The damage is extensive and covers the majority of the Plaza complex, including six restaurants, both sports halls and ten-pin bowling alley.

Nearly 4,000 people were moved to safety

"The sub-tropical swimming pool is still intact. We can't say when it's going to re-open."

At the peak of the fire, 150 firefighters from Suffolk, Norfolk and Cambridgeshire were at the scene.

They were assisted by helicopters from Suffolk Police.

The 400-acre woodland site, which opened in 1989, is one of three Center Parcs in the UK and employs 1,100 people.

It is unclear what the cost of the damage caused by the fire will be but is expected to run into millions of pounds.