A HOTEL housing homeless people was evacuated when fire broke out.

Fire engines and ambulances were called to Gulliver’s Hotel in New Steine, Brighton, shortly before 10.30pm on Friday.

The people inside were evacuated while firefighters tackled the blaze.

A nearby resident said: “I saw five engines, two ambulances as well as police.

“There was strong smell of burning and smoke.”

Sussex Police said they were called by the fire service at 10.22pm.

“The premises were evacuated by them and management but there were no reports of any injuries,” a force spokesman said.

“They contacted us again 45 minutes later and confirmed that the fire was accidental. There is no police investigation.”

Brighton and Hove City Council said it was working with fire service to ensure safety across the city.

In late March, the government demanded that all councils must provide accommodation for every rough sleeper and gave the authorities money to achieve it.

Brighton and Hove City Council homed its rough sleepers, reported to number about 200 at the time, by brokering deals with hotels and guest houses which were unable to accommodate guests following the announcement of lockdown measures.

A council spokesman said: “The fire was quickly extinguished without damage being caused to the property and no resident was displaced. We work closely with the fire service to ensure the safety of homeless people in temporary accommodation.”

The city council has now placed more than 600 households in emergency accommodation to “save them from the streets”.

Some of these households have been found accommodation out of area.

City leaders came under fire in Parliament this month after it was revealed it had moved more than 130 homeless people into Eastbourne town’s hotels – without telling the borough council.

MP for Eastbourne Caroline Ansell questioned how the people could be getting the help they need while being “at arm’s length” from Brighton and Hove and unknown to the town’s authorities.