Staffordshire Police has opened an investigation after an arson attack at the North Stafford Hotel in Stoke yesterday evening.

Staffordshire Fire and Rescue was alerted to the fire at the rear of the hotel building at 10:05pm on Wednesday (23 July) after a stack of doors, from a refurbishment, were set alight outside.

Fire investigators have since concluded that the fire was started deliberately and are asking for anyone with any information to come forward. There were no injuries reported.

The North Stafford Hotel, off Station Road, is currently empty as it is undergoing a refurbishment and prior to this was used as accommodation for people seeking asylum in the UK.

A spokesperson for Staffordshire Police said: "We were called to a hotel on Station Road, Stoke, at 10.05pm yesterday (Wednesday 23 July) following reports of a small fire.

"Officers attended the scene alongside colleagues from Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service.

"Nobody was reported injured.

"Fire investigators deemed the cause to be deliberate and our investigation is ongoing."

Anyone who has any information which may help the police investigation is asked to contact call 101, quoting incident 770 of 23 July or use Live Chat on the website. To report anonymously, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.