Drone footage has revealed the extent of the damage done to England's "oldest hotel"..
Around 120 firefighters have been battling the blaze for more than 24 hours and said that "steady progress" was being made.
The damage to the 300-year-old Royal Clarence Hotel in Exeter has been described by a historian as a "heart-breaking loss for the city".
The fire started in an art gallery in the centre of the city and quickly spread to the 18th century coaching inn after being fuelled by a ruptured gas main.
The inn, which is now called the Abode Hotel and is part of the Andrew Brownsword group, was built within the precincts of Roman Exeter and survived the 1942 Blitz, according to University of Exeter historian Dr Todd Gray.
He said the destruction was "devastating" and added: "We have so little left and hopefully the fire will be contained and not spread further."
Dr Gray added: "For 2,000 years this area has been the focus of the city's religious and commercial life.
"The ground and first floors of the hotel are medieval and the upper floors were added in the late 1700s when the building was renamed a hotel.
"It has been long known as the first inn in England to rebrand itself in this way.
"What is so particularly heart-breaking about this loss is that these buildings escaped the Blitz of 1942 when so much of Exeter was destroyed."
All those staying in the hotel were safely evacuated and it is not yet known how the blaze started.
The fire service said: "Fire crews are still at the scene working hard to get the fire under control.
"Residents are asked to consider their travel arrangements around the city centre as road closures may still be in place."
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