GUESTS staying at a castle hotel had to be evacuated after a fire erupted in one of its rooms.

Fire crews from West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service were dispatched to the hotel at Amberley Castle, in Arundel, at 12.30am this morning.

Firefighters found a small fire in one of the hotel's rooms.

All guests were safely evacuated to the nearby village hall, before they could be found other hotels to stay in.

The fire had spread to the roof space above the room.

The fire was extinguished and salvage operations were undertaken to protect the historic property.

Fire crews remained at the castle throughout the early hours of this morning to make the hotel safe.

An investigation was launched into the cause of the fire this morning.

John Badley, regional general manager at the castle, said: “Following a small fire at Amberley Castle in the early hours of the March 1, all of our guests and staff were safely evacuated and accounted for, with no injuries reported.

"We are most grateful for the prompt actions of both the fire service and our hotel colleagues who aided the safe evacuation of all guests.”