The blaze, which flared up in different parts of the site, gutted the former Mont de la Rocque hotel Picture: WWW.KANDIDPRINTS.COM

A POLICE investigation has begun into the cause of a fire which yesterday gutted a former St Aubin hotel.

Firefighters were at the now boarded-up Mont de la Rocque hotel for most of yesterday as the blaze flared up in different parts of the site. The alarm was raised at 5.45 am and soon flames were visible through the roof.

Speaking this morning, station manager Clive Russell, of the Fire and Rescue Service, said that the discovery of asbestos meant that they had decided to fight the blaze from outside. He added that the health protection unit and the police were now also involved in the investigation and the clean-up.

He said that it was too early to suggest a cause and to say whether the fire was suspicious. However, DI Chris Beechey, the head of CID at the States police, later said: ‘The States of Jersey Police can confirm that we are investigating the circumstances surrounding the recent fire at Mont de la Rocque hotel, St Aubin.