Aerial pictures show the scale of a fire which has gutted a historic hotel housing around 30 people including Ukrainian refugees.
The Angel Inn in Midhurst set alight in the early hours of the morning with flames ripping through the roof and spreading to the rest of the building.
The blaze, which appears to have started in a neighbouring building, is still being dealt with by fire services with 14 fire engines in attendance.
Drone pictures from the scene of the fire show the flames raging on the left side of the building as well as part of a property next door to the hotel.
Firefighters used an aerial platform to tackle the fire from a height as well as fire jets of water from North Street in Midhurst.
Residents who witnessed the fire said that the hotel, which is around 400 years old, had been the home to a number of Ukrainian migrants who had settled in Midhurst.
Hilton Holloway, who lives opposite the hotel, said: “There were a number of Ukrainian refugees in the hotel, which had around 15 rooms.
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“I spoke to one young woman who seemed relatively calm.”
Richard Abbot, West Sussex Fire and Rescue area manager for the blaze, said: “Over 30 people have been evacuated from the building and firefighters are working hard to bring the fire under control.”
“It is too early in the incident to know the cause of the fire, however we will be investigating as soon as it is safe to do so.”
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