A four-star hotel in an historic building had to be evacuated in the early hours after a fire broke out in a kitchen.

Firefighters were called to the Marriott-owned Hollins Hall in Baildon shortly before 2am today because of a blaze in a kitchen area of the hotel’s leisure centre.

Staff evacuated the building, and handed out blankets and hot drinks to around 130 guests to keep them warm while firefighters put out the flames. No-one was hurt.

Fire crews said when they got there, all the guests were already outside.

Watch Commander Jonathan Earl, of Shipley fire station, said a sprinkler had activated, which had helped to put out the flames, but that this had caused extensive water damage to the kitchen and the gym on the floor below.

Mr Earl said crews stayed for more than two hours, sweeping water out of the building. He said: “The guests were well looked after by the hotel. There were a few complementary drinks being served.”

He said the cause of the fire was believed to be a frying range which had been left on.

Hotel manager Andrew Glover today thanked firefighters for their help and said the hotel was running as normal again.

He said: “All guests and employees were successfully evacuated and there have been no reported injuries.

“The fire suppression system worked as designed and the Shipley fire department attended and successfully extinguished the fire.

“The exact cause of the fire is under investigation. There is no structural damage to the building and no guest rooms were impacted.

“We are grateful for the assistance provided by the Shipley fire department.”