Human remains found in rubble of Newquay hotel fire

Two people are still missing after the blaze gutted the Penhallow Hotel in Newquay, Cornwall, early on Saturday.

Devon and Cornwall police said today the search team had found what were believed to be human remains there.

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"The families of the two people who are unaccounted for have been advised, but the process to confirm the identification is just beginning," said a police spokesman.

"The search continues for the other unaccounted-for person and any relevant evidence to assist the investigation," added the spokesman.

Earlier today, the police said the two missing after the fire were believed to have died in the blaze.

Devon and Cornwall Police said they would treat the fire at the Penhallow Hotel in Newquay, Cornwall, as a "major crime" until they found "evidence to the contrary".

A 43-year-old man died after trying to escape the flames which engulfed the hotel on Saturday.

It is believed the man, who has not yet been identified, tried to jump to safety from the second or third floor.

Detective Chief Inspector Mike Fowkes told a press conference in Newquay today that police believed two missing people were "sadly" in the burnt-out remains of the hotel.

The search of the rubble of the Penhallow has now started and police said the process could take more than two weeks.

Mr Fowkes said: "It is going to be a long process.

"It may take five days, it may take two weeks, it may be longer. It is not going to stop until we are finished.

"It is the job of dedicated officers to find two victims which we believe, sadly, may be on that site."

Mr Fowkes said the 43-year-old man who died may be identified later today.

Detective Chief Inspector Darren Lockley said it was too early to say whether the blaze was arson but that they would be treating the site as a "major crime scene".

"The horrific fire has had major consequences," he said. "It will be treated as a major crime scene until there is evidence to the contrary.

"We aim to establish the cause of the fire and how it started."