AN employee of the Prices and Prescriptions Authority, which backs onto the hotel in Higher Bridge Street, said she could see the effects of the fire as she arrived for work.

The woman, who declined to be named, said: "From here you see can see that the windows have all been blown out.

"When I came into work at seven this morning the area was cordoned off by police and they were stopping people, but they let us through to the car park.

"Buses were all being diverted but they have opened up the roads again now.

"The police and firemen are still there but I can't see any of the guests -- I don't know where they have gone."