IT “isn’t possible” to provide a timeline for when a fire-gutted hotel will be demolished, a council says.

Eastbourne Borough Council said storms and bad weather have delayed planned works at The Claremont Hotel on Eastbourne seafront, which went up in flames as guests were eating breakfast in November last year.

Days later, parts of the building crumbled. In December there was a second collapse and part of the hotel facade came down as Storm Ciara raged last month.

In a statement, Eastbourne Borough Council said: “The complexity of the work on the site of the Claremont Hotel means that progress is slower than we would like, but this is not unexpected.

“Daish’s Holidays, the hotel owners, has numerous specialists working together to ensure the demolition and associated work is completed as quickly and as safely as possible.

“The devastating damage to the hotel building was exacerbated by recent storm force winds.

“As a consequence of this severe weather and the damage it did, a temporary support is needed for the neighbouring properties, to allow the demolition work to be completed.

“These plans are well advanced and we expect the support to be in place very soon.”

“With that done and the remaining parts of the building demolished, the excavation and removal of the rubble and other debris from the site can take place.

“It isn’t possible to provide a timeline on these steps at this stage, but all those involved are doing everything possible to achieve a partial reopening of Grand Parade to vehicles, as soon as possible.”