Second fire in days at derelict seafront hotel

A fire has broken out at a derelict seafront hotel on the Isle of Wight for the second time in a week.

Firefighters from three stations across the island were called to the Ocean Hotel on the High Street, Sandown, on Thursday at about 20:00 BST.

The blaze, found by crews on the third floor, was believed to have been set deliberately, the fire service said.

A fire at the hotel on Monday saw four crews sent at about 19:00.

Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire & Rescue Service said nobody was found inside the property at the time of Thursday's fire.

The owners of the hotel have previously been handed tidy-up enforcement orders by the local council and police.

In May 2021 a large blaze, involving all four floors of the building, destroyed part of the abandoned hotel.

There have been numerous fires at derelict hotels at the island's seaside resorts.

In June, two fires in a week broke out at the Cygnet Hotel in Sandown.

In July 2022, and more recently in February, fires broke out at the former Parkbury Hotel.

There was a fire at the former Grand Hotel in January 2022.

The Royal Cliff Hotel was also destroyed in a suspected arson attack in 2014.

Follow BBC South on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected] or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2240.