One person taken to hospital and another rescued after fire rips through Blackpool hotel in suspected arson attack

An investigation is now underway into the cause of the blaze at the Almar in Central Drive, which started at around 2.30am.

Six fire engines from across the Fylde coast were called to the three-storey hotel and arrived to find the ground floor "well alight", a spokesman for the Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service (LFRS) said.

Firefighters wearing breathing masks and carrying water jets put out the flames, he added, with the fire out by 3.25am.

One person clambered to safety down a ladder at the back of the hotel, while another - who got to safety on their own - was checked over by paramedics, the spokesman said.

One ambulance and two rapid response cars were called out at 2.39am, a spokeswoman for the North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) said.

She said one person was taken to hospital after breathing in smoke.

"It was somebody inside the hotel", she said, but could not give their gender or age.

Lancashire Police said a "number of people" were evacuated.

A 35-year-old man from Blackpool was arrested on suspicion of arson with the intention of endangering life.

He was still in custody this morning, a force spokeswoman said.

The Almar was open for business at the time of the fire, it was understood, with the last review on website Booking.com being left last Tuesday.