FIREFIGHTERS have finally got a major fire in a North Yorkshire hotel under control.

Crews from 18 fire engines spent much of the afternoon battling to prevent the flames spreading from the east wing of Crathorne Hall hotel to the rest of the building.

But the blaze, which broke out shortly after 10am this morning, has caused serious structural damage to part of the hall near Yarm.

North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue service said at 4.30pm that the fire in the roof space was now under control, but crews were continuing to fight the fire and dampen down and were likely to remain at the scene for some time.

Watch manager David Dryburgh said crews had soon established it was a major incident when they arrived at the scene.

“Nobody has been injured as far as we can ascertain and nobody is missing,” he said.

“We are dealing with serious structural damage. There will be a lot of work making the place safe."

Crews from Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Services and Cleveland Fire Brigade have been at the scene to support the North Yorkshire service, along with two aerial ladder platforms.

An aerial ladder platform was used as a water tower to spray water on to the roof of the building from a height.

Fire crews used water from hydrants and open water sources to supply water to the incident and two water tankers were requested to attend.

A spokeswoman from Hand Picked Hotels, which owns the hotel, said: "The fire broke out in a wing of the hotel and has been confined there.

"No-one was hurt and all the staff and guests have been evacuated."

Crathorne Hall was built in 1906, overlooking the Leven Valley on the edge of the Yorkshire Moors, and was owned by the Dugdale family until 1977.

The hotel's website says it has 'played host to politicians, courted royalty and delighted socialites over the decades.'