Two 19-year-old men have been arrested by Burnham-On-Sea police investigating last night’s blaze at the Highbridge Hotel.
It comes after fire crews who tackled the big blaze said there were strong suspicions that it was set deliberately.
The two men were arrested on suspicion of arson with intent and are being questioned by police.
Fire crews from Burnham and Bridgwater rushed to the scene shortly before 5pm and the blaze – which affected a third of the building – was eventually extinguished with hose reel jets – see online video and photos of the fire here.
Burnham fire officer Dick Solomon, pictured above, told Burnham-On-Sea.com at the scene: “There are strong suspicions that this fire was deliberately ignited.”
“I would urge anyone with information about what happened to contact the police.”
“The building was well alight when we arrived and the Bridgwater hydraulic platform was required to reach the roof of the hotel.”
Fire crews finally left the scene at 9.50pm when the blaze was finally put out.
The A38 through Highbridge was closed for several hours during the busy rush hour while emergency services were at the scene.
The former Highbridge Hotel has been derelict since a huge blaze in April 2008.
