The fire started in the west side of the hotel's roof and spread

More than 100 firefighters from the Devon and Cornwall brigades were called to tackle the incident at the Grand Hotel on Plymouth Hoe on Sunday.

Much of the roof of the 77-bedroom Grade II listed building, which was built in 1879, was destroyed.

About 62 guests were staying at the hotel, although most were out of the building when the fire broke out, and more than 20 staff were evacuated from the scene.

Fire crews

No one was injured in the incident.

The fire was believed to have started in the west side of the roof. It spread from there and caused large clouds of smoke to billow across the seafront.

Several floors were alight as 15 crews at the scene used aerial platforms, hose reels and breathing apparatus to tackle the incident.

Parts of the city's Leigham Street, Citadel Road and Eliot Street were sealed off by emergency services.

Divisional Officer Malcolm Carmichael said it was a major incident for the crews.

He said: "They went in and made their way up the upper floors, checking room by room to make sure nobody was up there while there was a fire burning above their heads.

"They were very difficult conditions to work in."

Parts of the city's Leigham Street, Citadel Road and Eliot Street were closed by emergency services while the fire was brought under control.

Garth Powell, managing director of MacDonald Hotels, said: "The damage is pretty significant.