MORE than 100 people were evacuated from a Bournemouth hotel last night after fire broke out.

Three people were led to safety by firefighters and treated at the scene for smoke inhalation following the blaze at the Carrington House Hotel, Knyveton Road.

The blaze is not thought to have been caused deliberately but a full investigation is to be carried out.

Firefighters said the blaze which caused extensive smoke damage to all three floors of the hotel, started in the ground floor boiler room and affected up to 30 rooms.

Pensioners Frank and Betty Wardell, of Worcestershire, were staying at the hotel for a week with their sequence dancing group.

Betty said: "All the lights went out and we all heard the alarms and the bells.

"They just went on and on and then we could smell smoke. We all had to get out.

Lee Sivier, hotel operations manager, said: "The fire alarms went off. I came out and tried to tackle the smoke.

"We got everybody out and then the fire brigade turned up. There was a lot of smoke."

Divisional officer with Dorset Fire and Rescue Steve Shuck praised the actions of hotel staff, which he said helped to save lives.

Ten fire engines, plus support appliances, two police cars, and ambulance crews were called to the scene at around 5pm after fire alarms sounded.

Crews saw smoke coming from the building and were told people, including many disabled pensioners, were trapped inside.

Firefighters wearing breathing equipment entered the building and led three people to safety.

People were then taken to nearby hotels to wait until the incident was over.

Mr Shuck added: "It was a complex operation. There were just over 100 people in the hotel at the time and three of them needed help getting out.

"When something like this happens it is the actions of the hotel staff and how well trained they are.

"They did very well. Someone could have died. It is all credit to the hotel that that didn't happen."