THE FIRE ravaged King's Hotel in Darlington is so badly damaged it may be weeks before a cause is known.

Investigators sifting through the wrecked building admit they face a massive task in coming to a conclusion.

The blaze is believed to have started in the hotel's fourth floor and spread rapidly to the roof in the early hours of Friday.

Although the most effective way to attack the fire would have been from below, fire chiefs couldn't sanction such an operation because the danger of a collapse was too great.

Instead, fire fighters had to punch holes in the roof to reach the flames from a turn-table ladder.

Today fire crews started damping down, recovering guests' personal possessions and opening roads in the town centre.

The fire was officially declared out at 8.31am, but a brigade spokesman said the hotel will continue to smoulder for the rest of the day.

Dave Turnbull, from County Durham & Darlington Fire and Rescue Service, said a joint investigation between the service and Durham Police had now been launched to find the cause of the blaze.

He added that the force hoped to open as many roads as possible and move the cordon back. Priestgate and some of the pedestrianised area remain closed.

Flames were shooting through the roof of the 86-bedroom King’s Hotel, formerly the King’s Head, and a plume of smoke engulfed the town centre just after midnight.

About 60 firefighters were battling to control the blaze as a police helicopter helped direct the operation and large parts of the town centre were cordoned off.

The fire threatened nearby buildings in Priestgate, including the Cornmill shopping centre and The Northern Echo offices, before it was brought under control shortly before 4am.

Sixty-three people had to be evacuated, including guests from China and Canada.

Two people had to be rescued by the fire brigade, but no one was thought to be hurt.

Guests were being moved to the Dolphin Centre sports complex. Another hotel, the Blackwell Grange, agreed to take evacuees.

Some may be allowed back to retrieve their possessions later today.

Fire teams from Darlington, County Durham and North Yorkshire were tackling the blaze.

Mike Dixon, head of operations for County Durham and Darlington fire brigade, said the roof of the building had collapsed.

He said: “We are fighting the fire internally and externally.

There are two turntable ladders spraying water down on the building and ten appliances.

“A helicopter is helping direct the operation from above the blazing building.”

Mr Dixon added: “Our main aim is to stop the fire spreading to the Cornmill shopping centre.”

Scott Donald, 39, who was staying at the hotel, said: “The alarm went off at 12.30am. At first we thought it One of the biggest fires in Darlington’s history was a false alarm, as we had two last night. Then we realised it was for real.”

Originally a coaching inn in 1611, King’s Hotel was rebuilt in 1893 and has recently undergone refurbishment.