A huge fire at a well-known hotel in South East Cornwall raged for hours, leaving the property with its heart ripped out and only the walls standing.

At one stage there were more than 50 firefighters from all over Cornwall at the scene at Great Trethew Country House Hotel at Horningtops, near Liskeard. More assistance came from units in Devon.

The emergency services received a call from a staff member at Great Trethew at 12.32pm on Tuesday and by around 2pm, due to the intensity of the blaze, it became clear that it was unlikely the 200-year-old, three-storey hotel could be saved.

The hotel was fully booked at the time, but most of the guests were out for the day and no one was hurt.

Incident commander Martin Wingrove took all firefighters out of the building for their own safety as the roof and floors began collapsing.

Possessions

Hotel owner Michael Peacock and his partner Jane had gone shopping at Trago Mills, and had just reached the car park there when they received a call from a member of staff.

'She said the hotel was on fire. We'd only left about 20 minutes earlier,' said Mr Peacock.

'I am devastated, it's hard to take in. There is nothing left.

'Everything I have worked for since I bought the hotel in 1980 has gone, and I will have to start all over again.

'My partner Jane and I have lost all our possessions – we only have what we are standing up in.'

The couple have moved into one of their holiday cottages in the hotel grounds while they wait for the reports from the insurers and surveyors.

'I intend for Trethew to come back into business again as soon as I know how to move forward,' Mr Peacock said.

Neighbours at nearby Blackadon Farm, Roger and Nancy Gillbard, have spoken of their shock at the fire.

Nancy said: 'We are shocked, it was such a lovely old building, and we feel upset for Mick.

'We have known him since he was a lad and we are sure he will come out of this and start again.'

Fire crews in attendance included those from Liskeard, Bodmin, Saltash, Looe, Callington, Lostwithiel, St, Dennis, Truro, Wadebridge and St Austell, with the command support vehicle coming from Launceston.

Accidental

Two appliances stayed overnight as the damping down operation continued.

In a report yesterday, Cornwall Fire and Rescue fire investigators said: 'We have now finished investigations and have classified the fire as accidental.'