Two girls arrested after historic hotel destroyed in suspected arson attack

Two teenage girls have been arrested in connection with a fire that severely damaged a historic Grade-II listed former hotel.

West Mercia Police said the teenagers, aged 13 and 14, had both been released on bail as part of its inquiry into damage caused to the Raven Hotel in Droitwich Spa, Worcestershire.

Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service said it responded swiftly to the fire at 4.45pm on Sunday, with the first fire engine arriving on scene within two minutes of the initial emergency call.

The brigade said eight fire engines and multiple specialist vehicles were deployed to tackle the blaze. No casualties were reported but the fire service said the blaze "totally destroyed" the building.

On Monday, the West Mercia force said in a statement: "Police attended a large fire at the Raven Hotel on St Andrews Street in Droitwich.

"It was believed the fire had been started deliberately but thankfully nobody has been injured.

"Two girls, 13 and 14, were arrested on suspicion of arson and have since been released on bail."

Officers remain at the scene and are asking that the public stay away from the area at this time.

Wychavon District Council erected scaffolding around the privately-owned building following an incident in September 2024, when guttering and debris fell on to the road.

This event also led the council to carry out an urgent inspection, which revealed that the state of the unused structure - some parts of which date back to the 16th century - presented a danger to the public.

Fire service group commander Simon Cusack said: "This was a challenging incident, and I want to commend the professionalism and dedication of our firefighters and partner agencies.

"The rapid response and teamwork ensured that the fire was quickly contained and extinguished without injury. We appreciate the public's support and will continue to work with the local authority and business owner to secure the site."

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The district council said it shared the community's frustration over the "devastating" fire and was working closely with the fire service to assess the building and provide guidance on the next steps.

The council said in a statement: "We understand completely the strength of feeling and affection for this historic building and the significance it has for the town.

"Over the last six months we had been working hard to ensure that urgent works were carried out to protect the building in line with the court order we secured late last year. These works were due to finish this week and we will still invoice the owner for payment."

The council said it will release another statement once there is an update on the condition and safety of the structure.

(c) Sky News 2025: Two girls arrested after historic hotel destroyed in suspected arson attack