Published: April 24, 2008
A38 through Highbridge remains closed after blaze at former hotel

The A38 through Highbridge will remain closed today (Thursday April 24th) as police and fire investigators continue their probe into the huge blaze that badly damaged the former Highbridge Hotel.

A huge fire swept through the property on Tuesday evening, destroying a large section of the building.

Police concluded their search of the damaged building and are now satisfied that there was no-one inside the building at the time of the blaze.

The building - which is Grade II listed - may need to be demolished if it is considered too unsafe, although local resident Carol Cabin has contacted English Nature to push them to step in.

"English Heritage is very concerned about the possible demolition and has contacted Sedgemoor District Council," she told Burnham-On-Sea.com.

The A38 Market Street will remain closed until the front of the building is made safe by structural engineers.

The building's owner, Derek Mead, told Burnham-On-Sea.com on Wednesday: "It's too soon to say yet whether the building will have to be demolished. We have a structural engineers assessing it and they will give me their advice in due course. The whole thing is disgusting - the kids have been running riot here."

Police are also appealing for anyone with information about the blaze to come forward.

"Police are keen to speak to anyone who may have seen anything suspicious around the hotel or may have any information as to any people who may have been inside the hotel building," said spokesman Dan Mountain.

"A number of people were in the area at the time of the fire with some reporting they had seen people in the building earlier in the evening."

Anyone with information should contact Bridgwater CID on 0845 4567000 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

Our photos show the scene of the fire on Thursday morning