Video: One dead as fire sweeps Harrogate's Majestic Hotel

North Yorkshire Police said more than 130 guests were moved out of the Majestic Hotel in Harrogate.

Fire crews were called to the historic building at around 5am.

It is thought the blaze may have started in one of the top-floor rooms.

Eyewitnesses reported seeing flames coming from the roof of the hotel.

Around 60 firefighters were brought in to tackle the blaze at the hotel, which is located in 12 acres of gardens in the heart of Harrogate.

A spokesman for North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service said: "We can now confirm that police and fire officers investigating the fire at the Majestic Hotel in Harrogate have located a body.

"The body was found on the fifth floor of the hotel. At this stage we are unable to confirm the identity and whether or not it is the member of staff who remained unaccounted for."

The spokesman added: "It is still too early to comment on a cause for the fire but an investigation will commence as soon as practicably possible."

A police spokesman said the fire was being treated as "potentially suspicious".

Superintendent Ken McIntosh, said: "At this stage the cause of the fire is not known and a full examination of the the scene will be carried out by fire investigators and police. It is too early to say if there are any suspicious circumstances.

"At this stage, there is one person, a member of hotel staff, unaccounted for, inquiries are currently ongoing to locate the man.

"Until it is safe to enter the building and the area of the fire, we will not be in a position to confirm any casualties."

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service group manager John Foster said 16 fire appliances were sent to the scene.

"We believe the fire to involve top-floor bedrooms and the roof area with fire and smoke emitting and members of the public making over 13 repeated calls to the fire service."

He said 130 guests were evacuated along with about 25 members of staff.

One guest, Julian Harrison, from Wolverhampton, said: "Everybody was very calm.

"A majority of people thought somebody had just set off the alarm with a cigar but on the way down, firemen were running up the stairs past us and we knew then it was something more serious."