OVER 100 firefighters - including 20 from Teignbridge - have spent two days tackling a major blaze in the centre of Exeter just yards from its 14th century cathedral.

Emergency services were deluged by 999 calls after smoke and flames were seen coming from an art gallery on Cathedral Green just after 5am on Friday.

Fire crews at the historic scene came from Danes Castle, Topsham, Crediton, Exmouth, Cullompton, Ottery St Mary, Dawlish, Tiverton, Honiton, Middlemoor, Teignmouth, Sidmouth, Budleigh Salterton, Moretonhampstead and Newton Abbot

No one was injured in the blaze as flames tore through The Gallery – which has previously exhibited works by Nobel laureate Bob Dylan and Rolling Stones legend Ronnie Wood.

However, despite stirling efforts of tfirefighters by mid-morning the flames had spread to the evacuated 18th century Royal Clarence Hotel, one of the finest buildings in the city., and a major incident was declared.

As the day progressed more pumping units were deployed to the scene and a specialist pumping unit was in use to pump additional water supplies from the River Exe.

By the early evening is was clear that the hotel was beyond help. The crest on the front of the building collapsed and slowly the fire-ridden floors and roofs collapsed in on one another. A large section of the front facade collapsed and fire-fighting was further hampered on Saturday morning when a gas line inside the gutted hotel ruptured.

By 6.00pm on Saturday evening is was believed the blaze have finally been extinguished, although fears remain for the structural integrity of the front facade of the building.

Firecrrews remain at the scene and are expected to be there for most of the weekend. Road closures still remain in place around the area.